Addiction, Autonomy, and Informed Consent: On and Off the Garden Path.

Course overview

Some researchers consider impaired autonomy regarding drug consumption as a defining component of addiction. If true, studies and treatment protocols involving provision of drugs to addicts would face insurmountable ethical issues. Evidence shows that addicts can and do resist consumption. Though autonomy is doubtlessly impaired, addicts can still give informed consent. No unique ethical concern exists for this population in well-designed studies and treatment programs.