Kind Of Urgent, Need Advice

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queentakesjack

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Hi everyone, I recently contracted poison oak from pulling weeds outside. My family is incredibly sensitive to it and my uncle gets it ALL the time. Well long story short my uncle brought over the medication that he takes when he has to get rid of it and told me to take it. Now my mother used to work in the medical field, she doesn’t now, but she said that I’ve had this medication before and that it isn’t a narcotic or anything and that if I went to the doctor that is just what they would prescribe me. But I’m feeling conflicted with taking a medication I wasn’t prescribed, not for health reasons because I trust my mom’s medical knowledge, but because I fear it could be a mortal sin since technically it’s breaking the law right? Well it would cost me a lot of money to go see my doctor and that’s not to mention the amount the medicine would cost as well. So what I’m wondering is if I take the same medication they would give me, but didn’t go to the doctor is it a mortal sin? Please help me I don’t know what to do and I’m itchy I’m very new to Catholicism and have troubles with scruples. My mom tells me I’m ridiculous and says God probably wouldn’t want me to sit here and suffer, but I’m feeling doubtful. What should I do?
 
It’s going to be a little difficult for people here to provide advice without violating the ban on providing medical advice, but I’ll give it a shot.

My real advice would be to drop by a clinic, which is usually cheaper than going to a doctor’s office, and then get them to prescribe something for you. If you can afford it (even if you don’t feel like spending the money on it), this is a good idea.

But strictly from the standpoint of sinning, rather than from the standpoint of health, we are generally required to abide by any laws that are not themself against the moral law. For example, in the extremely unlikely event that there was a law passed that required us to bow down before idols, there would be no sin in breaking that law, but OTOH we have to stop at stop signs, even if there isn’t really any danger if we blow through one specific one.

At least that is my understanding. But IMHO, it would be a venial sin to take the medicine, even if you could be sure it was medically OK.

Of course you could just go get some calamine lotion (or whatever non-prescription medicine you choose) and use that. Just because something doesn’t need a prescription doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

I think that you’re mother’s idea that your choices are to take someone else’s prescription or sit there and suffer is perhaps not the real situation.

–Jen
 
From a purely moral standpoint I would not hesitate to take a medication that I need that was obtained legally and is available to me. I remember one time one of my kids had something and the Ped said that the container the medication came in had more than was needed for one person and I could use it on the others if they had it as well.

ETA: If it is illegal, or a controlled substance (that can be abused etc) then I would reconsider. I guess I would need to research the laws in the area.

Please do not take this as an encouragement to take the medication in your situation, I do not want to offer any type of medical advice. I just wanted to address the moral side.
 
Thank you both kindly, I did not mean to put you guys in any medical culpability. I just am wondering the moral side of the situation. 🙂
 
Well…from a saftey standpoint you should get a prescription s you dont get ill…but from a moral standpoint, if you KNOW its safe, i see nothing wrong with taking it even if it was not prescribed directly to you.
 
queentakesjack said:
Hi everyone, I recently contracted poison oak from pulling weeds outside. My family is incredibly sensitive to it and my uncle gets it ALL the time. Well long story short my uncle brought over the medication that he takes when he has to get rid of it and told me to take it. Now my mother used to work in the medical field, she doesn’t now, but she said that I’ve had this medication before and that it isn’t a narcotic or anything and that if I went to the doctor that is just what they would prescribe me. But I’m feeling conflicted with taking a medication I wasn’t prescribed, not for health reasons because I trust my mom’s medical knowledge, but because I fear it could be a mortal sin since technically it’s breaking the law right? Well it would cost me a lot of money to go see my doctor and that’s not to mention the amount the medicine would cost as well. So what I’m wondering is if I take the same medication they would give me, but didn’t go to the doctor is it a mortal sin? Please help me I don’t know what to do and I’m itchy I’m very new to Catholicism and have troubles with scruples. My mom tells me I’m ridiculous and says God probably wouldn’t want me to sit here and suffer, but I’m feeling doubtful. What should I do?
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I do think you are being overly scrupulous, and I wouldn’t worry about taking the medication on moral grounds. However, if the medication is a steroid, there is a specific protocol for how much to take each day, so that you trail off gradually rather than all at once. And there may be other cautions for other types of medication. For those reasons, if it were me, I would want to get a prescription from a doctor, to be safe. But if you go to the doctor, do it for health concerns, not for moral concerns. That is my advice anyway.
 
I don’t think it’s immoral (I don’t even think it’s breaking the law), but it does seem unsafe.
 
queentakesjack said:
Hi everyone, I recently contracted poison oak from pulling weeds outside. My family is incredibly sensitive to it and my uncle gets it ALL the time. Well long story short my uncle brought over the medication that he takes when he has to get rid of it and told me to take it. Now my mother used to work in the medical field, she doesn’t now, but she said that I’ve had this medication before and that it isn’t a narcotic or anything and that if I went to the doctor that is just what they would prescribe me. But I’m feeling conflicted with taking a medication I wasn’t prescribed, not for health reasons because I trust my mom’s medical knowledge, but because I fear it could be a mortal sin since technically it’s breaking the law right? Well it would cost me a lot of money to go see my doctor and that’s not to mention the amount the medicine would cost as well. So what I’m wondering is if I take the same medication they would give me, but didn’t go to the doctor is it a mortal sin? Please help me I don’t know what to do and I’m itchy I’m very new to Catholicism and have troubles with scruples. My mom tells me I’m ridiculous and says God probably wouldn’t want me to sit here and suffer, but I’m feeling doubtful. What should I do?
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Medical advice aside, since you are scrupulous no matter what route you decide to treat this, you will not be sinning.
 
There’s sin, and then there’s common sense. We are advised not to share prescriptions since there can be adverse effects. We might be allergic, doctors might get sued, etc.

Poison oak is awful and sometimes the cure is as bad or worse. I know some landscape gardener who love the homeopathic over-the-counter pills. They say it kicks it out with no side effects. Aloe Vera is good for the skin too. Stay cool.

I always wondered if there was a patron saint for poison oak sufferers. Probably St Luke?

Try to learn more about better discernment of sin so you don’t go looking for it everywhere.
 
I don’t understand.
What law would you be breaking?
Where in Gods law does it say not to cure your illness?

Is the medication your uncle takes a prohibited substance?
 
PS: listen to your Mom here. God does not want you to sit there and suffer needlessly. Lord knows there is enough real suffering in our lives. Offer up the suffering and itching for others, take something to lessen the symptoms, and move on.

Reminder: poison oak dermatitis is an allergy. Not everyone gets it who is exposed to it. I never used to get it, then I started getting it just by looking at the plant! It’s like hay fever. Over time you can get run down and then become vulnerable. You can take vitamins and boost your immunity to help avoid it.
 
Thank you all so very much for your advise. If you were wondering no it isn’t a controlled substance and I think I know what to do now. 🙂 Thank you all again and God bless you.
 
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