Tomorrow’s patients: who are they, exactly?

The ethical dimension of “future patients” in consideration of research and drug approval is scientifically and philosophically fascinating, as well as underappreciated.1In fact, once these doors are open, many more questions arise. Firstly, how should future patients be defined? They could simply be thought of as those who imagine themselves becoming ill in the future. Should this group include the entire general public, or only those aware of the possibility of encountering the condition, or those most at risk? These definitions are consequential, as incentives of each of these groups will depend on the probability of them truly becoming “current” patients. In a different vein, should future patients be conceptualised as patients who will live in some future time, when social and cultural circumstances might have changed?The present-future split is treated in a variety of ways in other domains. When it comes to retirement policy, all voters get an equal…
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