Ethical Issues in Psychedelics Research

Description: Against the backdrop of mental health crises and widespread diseases of despair, psychedelic drugs have emerged as promising treatments for several psychiatric conditions including severe depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, and addiction. In this talk, I will describe ethical and professional challenges that, unless addressed, will expose participants (and eventually patients) to unnecessary risk and will undermine scientific progress. These include questions related to obtaining informed consent for transformative experiences and the protection of vulnerable persons in non-ordinary states. I will offer recommendations for policy and professionalism to advance ethical research in this emerging field.

Dominic Sisti, PhD
Associate Professor of Medical Ethics & Health Policy,
Associate Professor of Psychiatry,
Associate Professor of Philosophy,
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Director, Scattergood Program for Applied Ethics in Behavioral Health Care