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Diminished autonomy : Consent and chronic addiction
Matthews, Steve Kennett, Jeanette
Matthews, Steve
Kennett, Jeanette
Author
Abstract
Autonomous individuals are able to make decisions and effectively implement them, but heroin addiction can compromise this capacity.1 Very severely heroin-addicted persons are disabled in their efforts to implement decisions that would effectively promote their plans and values. For the purposes of this chapter, three salient pathways are available for a person in the grip of severe addiction. First, they may remain in their current situation, continuing to score and consume heroin untreated. Second, they may enter on a course of a maintenance dose of opiates. Or third, they may refuse to give up heroin, thereby triggering a legally mandated treatment regime involving detention in a facility where they receive clinical and transitional support services.2 In the second option, most typically a heroin substitute – either methadone or buprenorphine – is taken, but in some severe cases (about 5 per cent according to Alex Wodak), affected persons are resistant to this approach and in some jurisdictions heroin itself (diamorphine) is given.3 This is known as heroin-assisted treatment, or HAT.4
Keywords
Date
2019
Type
Book chapter
Journal
Book
Beyond autonomy : Limits and alternatives to informed consent in research ethics and law
Volume
Issue
Page Range
48-62
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled