Scholastic Steroids: Is Generation Rx Cognitively Cheating?

Abstract

This Comment attempts to answer whether medicinal brain boosting within medical and law schools is cognitive cheating by addressing the issue through pertinent ethical concerns. Part II of this Comment provides a scientific overview of the four most common cognitive enhancers and their FDA-approved uses. Part II also discusses the off-label exploitation of these medications. Part III analyzes medicinal neurocognitive enhancement within medical and law schools through three ethical categories—safety concerns, social implications, and fairness issues—to determine if such use is cognitive cheating. Part IV presents possible steps that university administrators may implement to prevent or monitor consumption of cognitive enhancers. Part IV further suggests new AMA and ABA guidelines that would directly address this issue. Part V concludes.