This dichotomy, while appealing to TV talk shows and tabloid journalism, doesn't do justice to the motives of nearly everyone involved. The discussion is complicated by the fact that children are dependent on their caregivers and are not allowed to make the final decision about their own care. At best, children are offered informed choice but not consent. Also, because children are in a developmental stage, the stakes are higher when they take medication. Parents and doctors are concerned that the medications may affect normal physical and developmental growth, leaving, in essence, permanent side effects.
Doctors genuinely desire to ease suffering.
But they are also strongly influenced by economic factors. The profit motive affects whether and in what manner doctors offer treatment. The doctor is then allowed two follow-up meetings of about 20 minutes each to review the child's behavior on the medication. However, no one could be really sure about Peter's intelligence because he was in constant motion and ignored his parents' commands. Murrow had already tried a number of medications with Peter.