Sam, Lia and alums in AJOB Neuroscience

On motivating the ill to pursue treatment.

There are four Terrapin philosophers in a recent issue of AJOB Neuroscience, centered on a position piece by alum Christopher Masciari *23 (Clinical Bioethicist, Community Health Network, Indianapolis), "Motivational Barriers to Care and the Ethics of Encouragement," and ringed by responses from Sam Kerstein, current PhD student Lia Curtis Fine, and alum Aida Roige *22 (Assistant Professor, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid). The papers are linked below. In his paper, Chris argues that "by using methods of encouragement, derived from the fields of social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral economics, healthcare workers can potentially provide their patients with tools for increasing adherence to their treatment plans," and argues that motivating patients "to act with respect to their commitments expresses a respect for autonomy and is non-paternalistic."

• Christopher Masciari / Motivational barriers to care and the ethics of encouragement
• Lia Curtis Fine / The implications of motivational barriers to care in mental health contexts
• Sam Kerstein / Non-adherence, autonomy, and goals of care
• Aida Roige / Helping without hijacking: Decision science and the ethics of treatment adherence