I believe there is a point where common sense must be used instead of common law of this nature. It has been suggested this defence would be so rare that corrective measures would be unnecessary. In the two months since the decision there have been four successful uses of the drunkenness defence. The dike is about to open. The point is simple.
Individuals are accountable for their conduct notwithstanding their intoxication.
I ask the Minister of Justice to promptly legislate this common sense rule for the integrity of our justice system and for the good of Canada. With clinical results that have been called spectacular, 3TC well illustrates the research work done by brand-name drug companies. This result could not have been achieved without the protection provided by the Drug Patent Act, which encourages multimillion-dollar investments in this field in order to increase the potential of biomedical research. Nevertheless, prudence is in order and we must not raise false hopes. Our society has a moral obligation to act cautiously, in a way that respects AIDS patients.