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Boy Sets Girl's Hair on Fire, Uses ADHD Defense

Posted by busylizzy • 4/03/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: adhd, impulsiveness, short attention span

I came across a story about a boy who set a girl's hair on fire with a lighter he was playing with, flicking it near her. She says he did it on purpose and he says it was an accident. The court found him innocent because he did not take his ADHD medication that day (it controls impulsive behavior) and believed his stance that it was an accident.

What do you think of the ADHD defense? Do you think people should be held accountable for accidents as well as things done on purpose?

I put my own opinion in the comments section of the post. I want people to form their own opinions without hearing mine.

You do not have to read my post to participate in this discussion but here is the link if you are interested: adhdandmore.blogspot.com/2009/04/adhd-defense-successful-boy-sets-girls.htm...

User Comments

4/03/09

SweetViolet

I think most people have highly uninformed opinions of ADD and ADHD, and their responses to your query will be based on said uninformed opinions rather than on an objective, rational view of the condition and its manifestations.

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1. 4/03/09
  
  busylizzy
  
  ...that's okay. I asked for opinions. I don't care if they are informed or uninformed. This is just a collection of opinions and (hopefully) not a platform for debates or arguements.
4/03/09

Anok

I think that people who have problems with their impulse control should have some legal protection with regards to law suits etc...

However - (and you knew this was coming) - if the person chooses not to take their medications....then haven't they chosen to not control their impulses? They may not have chosen whatever specific act/damage they've caused, but by refusing to take medications that are working properly, and successful for the person they, in my opinion, have intentionally disregarded the safety and well being of others. (only to be prosecuted if a criminal or dangerous act has taken place)

For children, I see more leeway - they aren't likely to take their medicine and be responsible in that way, and the parents may have been under the impression that the meds were being taken - honestly, they're kids....even if he didn't have ADHD, lighting a lighter near a girls flammable hair is completely stupid, but not out of the ordinary for a lot of kids who act before thinking.

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4/03/09

Shiley

ADHD is tough to deal with. My brother has this and God knows he has done some things that we could have potentially died from. Like set the house on fire. He was not on meds and since he had severe asthma I'm not sure my mom would have allowed him to be placed on more. As he got older he began to understand that's just not something you do. He killed my gerbils and was always getting in trouble.

The meds they place you on though are psycological. My husband was placed on psycological drugs for depression and it takes time for the drug to leave your system. I'm not sure I buy the "He Skipped a day." defense.

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4/03/09

jafabrit

"
What do you think of the ADHD defense? Do you think people should be held accountable for accidents as well as things done on purpose?"

Yes I do think adults should be held accountable. As Anok stated people have a choice about taking their meds, and when they choose NOT to they are choosing not to control their behaviour. It is the same argument when under the influence of recreational drugs/alcohol. If people are aware of the consequences of choosing to PUT something in their body or NOT, they should face accountability for what results.

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4/03/09

dinsquared

Where's the actual news article about the incident? I won't form an opinion based on second-hand information.

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1. 4/03/09
  
  Anok
  
  I think the question is a general one.
  
  Does ADHD create a legal loophole for irresponsible behavior, or is it a reasonable defense?
2. 4/03/09
  
  dinsquared
  
  @anok But @busylizzy is using this case as an example. You can't use an example and then say it's irrelevant.
  
  Busylizzy asked "Do you think people should be held accountable for accidents as well as things done on purpose?"
  
  But she's not using "people" as an example, she's using a 12 year old boy. So either it's a poor example, a poor argument or if she feels it's neither I'd like to read the actual article.
3. 4/03/09
  
  busylizzy
  
  Dinsquared - here is one of the newslinks:
  
  www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/Teenager-sets-girl...
4/03/09

melindaville

Ah, the medicalization of America! For every bad behavior, we now have a syndrome, a condition, etc, to explain it.

Even if the lack of medication did play a role, people have to take responsibility for their actions. Period!

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4/03/09

dosox

what did i say

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