After yesterday’s story at ESPN Boston regarding the Red Sox’ use of the controversial drug Toradol, the New York Post reports that the Red Sox are going to examine their use of the drugs. But they’re not going to stop using it:
“We are reviewing our policy in terms of its use — how we use it, not whether we use it. It’s a legal drug. A doctor, a licensed physician, has the right to prescribe it. We’re looking at it to make sure we’re putting our players’ health first. It’s an issue where there’s increased awareness.’’
That seems sensible. While the drug could be dangerous — and while there is an argument that it does a lot of the same things some performance enhancers do in terms of enabling players to play who otherwise might not be able to — the arbiter of its use should be whether it’s medically indicated and its costs sufficiently outweigh its benefits. Which is how all drugs should be judged.
Pity we don’t examine other controversial drugs in such a manner. Instead we allow fear and hysteria dictate everything.
