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Biomedical subjects

Stephen G Post

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen G Post.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Altuism, happiness, and health: it's good to be good.

Altruistic (other-regarding) emotions and behaviors are associated with greater well-being, health, and longevity. This article presents a summary and assessment of existing research data on altruism and its relation to mental and physical health. It suggests several complimentary interpretive frameworks, including evolutionary biology, physiological models, and positive psychology. Potential public health implications of this research are discussed, as well as directions for future studies. The article concludes, with some caveats, that a strong correlation exists between the well-being, happiness, health, and longevity of people who are emotionally and behaviorally compassionate, so long as they are not overwhelmed by helping tasks.

Altruism↗
PubMed2004

Establishing an appropriate ethical framework: the moral conversation around the goal of prolongevity.

This article presents a triadic framework for ethical discourse around the biogerontological goal of prolongevity, which might someday become achievable through the deceleration of aging. The methods are those of the humanities and philosophical analysis. The perspectives of natural law, equalitarian justice, and beneficence are presented in a balanced manner, although the conclusion reached is that the goal of prolongevity through decelerated aging is ethically valid as a potential means to the beneficent amelioration of the many diseases for which old age is the major susceptibility factor.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Discourse ethics: research, dementia, and communication.

This article begins with a brief statement of why Alzheimer disease (AD) research is an especially significant issue in bioethics. It then describes "discourse ethics" as an ethical methodology well suited for public deliberation on this topic. Finally, the article takes up the practical importance of communication techniques in research with AD-affected people, a point of emphasis that naturally arises from the idea of discourse ethics.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Psychiatry, religious conversion, and medical ethics.

The interface between religion, psychiatry, and ethics is often a locus for considerable controversy. This article focuses on the response of American psychiatry to religious nonconformism, and to religious conversion generally. At issue is the societal pressure against unpopular religious movements. The author argues for an ethic that conserves the freedom of religious conscience, and that guards against inquisitions in the guise of medical expertise and nosology.

Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reasons for seeking genetic susceptibility testing among first-degree relatives of people with Alzheimer disease.

Advances in genetic research have provided a basis for susceptibility testing for Alzheimer disease (AD). Prior surveys have examined attitudes toward genetic testing for AD in hypothetical scenarios, but it is unclear what reasons would motivate people to seek testing in real-life situations. This study presents data from the first randomized trial to evaluate genetic susceptibility testing for asymptomatic adult children of people with AD. We examined (1) reasons endorsed as motivations for seeking testing, (2) demographic characteristics associated with these reasons, and (3) how these reasons related to the eventual decision to pursue testing. Eligible participants were 206 adult children of people with AD (mean age 53 years; 72% female; 93% white), 77.7% of whom (n = 160) went on to seek testing. Participants endorsed numerous reasons for seeking susceptibility testing (mean 7.2), encompassing a range of motivations. The most commonly endorsed reasons were as follows: (1) to contribute to research (93.9%), (2) to arrange personal affairs (87.4%), and (3) the hope that effective treatment will be developed (86.8%). Women strongly endorsed more reasons for seeking testing than men (p < 0.05). The best predictor of actual pursuit of testing was strong endorsement of the need to prepare family members for AD (odds ratio = 3.3, p < 0.01). Findings suggest that genetic susceptibility testing is of interest to individuals at risk for AD for a variety of reasons, even in the relative absence of available treatments.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Full-spectrum proxy consent for research participation when persons with Alzheimer disease lose decisional capacities: research ethics and the common good.

This article focuses on riskier forms of research in Alzheimer disease (AD). It asks two fundamental questions. First, what is the upper threshold of potential risk that should be allowable in AD Research ("maximal potential risk")? Second, should proxy consent be permitted in higher-risk research even when there is no clear potential therapeutic value to the subject? There has been little discussion of maximal potential risk at a time when studies may be becoming increasingly invasive and risky. Proxy consent under such circumstances merits more thorough defense. This article discusses these questions on the basis of a "common good" ethic and calls for more input from researchers and the AD-affected constituency in resolving them.

Alzheimer Disease↗