Essays in Medical Ethics: Plea for a Medicine of Prudence

Kass, Leon R

Toy, Eugene C

Schachter, Steven C

<p><i>The Science and Ethics of Antipsychotic Use in Children</i> reviews the latest findings for the safety and efficacy of the rapidly rising incidence of antipsychotic use in children and examines tensions that are created by off-label use, both in clinical psychiatric practice and research.<br>In the past ten years, the number of antipsychotics prescribed to children with psychiatric disorders has skyrocketed. Despite this rapid growth, most medications have been inadequately studied in children for safety or efficacy and many have serious adverse health. Measures are needed to ensure that the health and safety of children are being protected, and debates have emerged over whether or not clinical trials in this population should be conducted.</p>

<p>Research increasingly suggests that addiction has a genetic and neurobiological basis, but efforts to translate research into effective clinical treatments and social policy needs to be informed by careful ethical analyses of the personal and social implications. Scientists and policy makers alike must consider possible unintended negative consequences of neuroscience research so that the promise of reducing the burden and incidence of addiction can be fully realized and new advances translated into clinically meaningful and effective treatments. </p> <p>This volume brings together leading addiction researchers and practitioners with neuroethicists and social scientists to specifically discuss the ethical, philosophical, legal and social implications of neuroscience research of addiction, as well as its translation into effective, economical and appropriate policy and treatments. Chapters explore the history of ideas about addiction, the neuroscience of drug use and addiction, prevention and treatment of addiction, the moral implications of addiction neuroscience, legal issues and human rights, research ethics, and public policy.</p>

Illingworth, Patricia