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Contextualized autonomy and liberalism: broadening the lenses on complementary and alternative medicines in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

journal contribution
posted on 2017-03-01, 00:00 authored by E Racine, J Aspler, Cynthia ForliniCynthia Forlini, J A Chandler
Given advances in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research, some experts have proposed a state of “preclinical” AD to describe asymptomatic individuals displaying certain biomarkers. The diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers remains debated; however, given economic pressures, this “diagnosis” may eventually reach consumers. Since evidence-based prevention and treatment options remain only modestly effective, patients may turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We explore ethical challenges associated with CAM use in preclinical AD. We first consider these issues through the liberal lens, which emphasizes informed choice while occasionally disregarding the complexity of decision making, at least as currently applied to CAM policies. We then broaden the liberal lens with a socio–contextual lens, which describes the impact of social context on choice. Finally, we describe an alternate lens (contextualized liberalism) and its practical health and policy implications while 1) building on the liberal commitment to autonomy and 2) recognizing contextual determinants of choice.

History

Journal

Kennedy Institute of Ethics journal

Volume

27

Issue

1

Pagination

1 - 41

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press

Location

Baltimore, Md.

ISSN

1054-6863

eISSN

1086-3249

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, Johns Hopkins University Press