It isn't acceptable to just put the risk on the average, uneducated person, who is easily swayed by the way media portrays something. We have experts for a reason, which is to guide us in what choices are safest, or "best" in the current circumstances they face.
Here's a little example, which is fairly common:
Alice has borderline personality disorder. Most people don't notice, she just seems to be rather outgoing, and prone to depression and anger. Alice isn't sure she has it.
Bill, Alice's husband, convinces her to go to therapy, where the psychologist practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (as CBT is the only government-approved therapy), which has no affect.
Alice's psychiatrist puts her on quetiapine.
The amount is strongly controlled, because an overdose is very likely to be lethal, and one of it's known side-effects is suicidal ideation.
She gains 10kg in a month, and her mood is barely affected, but people feel more comfortable around her. The weight gain depresses her.
The psychiatrist moves her to lithium.
Alice finds she can live a normal life, and no one notices her being outrageous anymore.
Alice and Bill decide to have a child.
Here's the hard part of "best": lithium is class D for pregnancy.
It's probably the best medication for Alice though, who has demonstrated she is fully capable of being a normal and productive member of society.
The same problems will continue if Alice chooses to breastfeed, which is best for the baby, so long as they are careful around medications.
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Neither Alice nor Bill are remotely qualified to determine what will, or will not, harm a child.
> We trust people to manage their own life
No, we don't.
We create laws, and regulations, to guide people into making safe choices.
Seatbelts are every bit as useful as a prescription.