Ep 9. Drugs of Last Resort; The Amanda Lindhout Story

Drugs of Last Resort; The Amanda Lindhout Story is the ninth episode of season 17 of the show Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. This episode focuses on the use of "drugs of last resort," which are experimental drugs used to treat life-threatening illnesses that have no other cure. Host Lucky Severson interviews Karon Peters, a mother who has been fighting a rare form of cancer for over a decade and has been taking "drugs of last resort" to stay alive. The episode also features interviews with doctors and researchers who are studying these drugs and the ethical questions surrounding their use.

The second half of the episode tells the story of Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian journalist who was kidnapped and held for ransom by militants in Somalia for over a year. Lindhout was subjected to brutal physical and emotional torture during her captivity, but she was eventually released after her family paid the ransom. After her release, Lindhout suffered from PTSD and depression and turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. She eventually found healing through a combination of therapy, spirituality, and forgiveness.

Throughout the episode, Severson explores the connections between faith, ethics, and medicine. He speaks with religious leaders who have differing opinions on the use of "drugs of last resort" and asks them to weigh in on the moral implications of using experimental drugs to prolong life. He also speaks with medical experts who are working to find new treatments for rare diseases and who are grappling with the tough decisions that come with administering untested drugs to patients.

Overall, Drugs of Last Resort; The Amanda Lindhout Story is a thought-provoking episode that raises important questions about the intersection of faith, morality, and medicine. It offers a glimpse into the lives of those who are fighting for their lives and shows the incredible resilience of the human spirit in the face of despair and suffering.