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Holly Fernandez Lynch

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

4 papers in the library · 93 citations · publishing 2023-2026

Papers

Journeying to Ixtlan: Ethics of Psychedelic Medicine and Research for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.

AJOB neuroscience January 1, 2023 Andrew Peterson, Emily A Largent, Holly Fernandez Lynch et al. 42 citations

Psychedelic drugs are not currently offered to people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, but interest is growing in using them to treat underlying causes and psychiatric symptoms. This paper proposes a research agenda for examining the ethics of psychedelic medicine and research involving persons with AD/ADRD. It offers preliminary analyses of six ethical issues: the impact of psychedelics on autonomy and consent; the effect of "ego dissolution" on those experiencing a pathology of self; how psychedelics might affect caregiving; the potential exploitation of patient desperation; institutional review boards' orientation to psychedelic research; and methods to reduce inequity. These issues are magnified for AD/ADRD but also relevant to other clinical populations.

The Hopkins-Oxford Psychedelics Ethics (HOPE) Working Group Consensus Statement

American Journal of Bioethics May 2, 2024 Edward Jacobs, B. Earp, Paul S. Appelbaum et al. 29 citations

A workshop on psychedelic ethics, the first Hopkins-Oxford Psychedelic Ethics (HOPE) meeting, was held in August 2023 at the University of Oxford to address ethical issues surrounding psychedelics. The organizers (BDE, DBY, EJ) aimed to foster interdisciplinary discussion on topics such as informed consent, therapeutic use, and societal implications. The report outlines the workshop's structure, key themes, and proposed guidelines for ethical research and practice in the field.

Addressing US Demand for Psychedelic Medicines in the Face of Scientific Uncertainty.

The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics January 1, 2026 Holly Fernandez Lynch, Xinping Hu, Alison Bateman-House 2 citations

Psychedelic medicines show potential for treating serious mental health conditions, creating demand before FDA approval. Policymakers should balance evidence, patient safety, and speed by increasing research support, avoiding barriers to research, improving FDA's pre-approval access, and preventing politically driven approvals.