Law, Ethics, and the Patient Preference Predictor

Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, February 2014, DOI: 101093/jmp/jhu004

Washington University in St. Louis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 14-02-02

Posted: 1 Mar 2014

See all articles by Rebecca Dresser

Rebecca Dresser

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law

Date Written: February 13, 2014

Abstract

The Patient Preference Predictor (PPP) is intended to improve treatment decision-making for incapacitated patients. The PPP would collect information about the treatment preferences of people with different demographic and other characteristics. It could be used to indicate which treatment option an individual patient would be most likely to prefer, based on data about the preferences of people who resemble the patient. The PPP could be incorporated into existing U.S. law governing treatment for incapacitated patients, although it is unclear whether it would be classified as evidence of a specific patient’s preferences or those of a reasonable person sharing certain characteristics with the patient. Ethical concerns about the quality and significance of PPP choices could influence legal decision-makers’ views of the PPP.

Suggested Citation

Dresser, Rebecca, Law, Ethics, and the Patient Preference Predictor (February 13, 2014). Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, February 2014, DOI: 101093/jmp/jhu004, Washington University in St. Louis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 14-02-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2402293

Rebecca Dresser (Contact Author)

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law ( email )

Campus Box 1120
St. Louis, MO 63130
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
254
PlumX Metrics