The article examines how psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) presents a unique challenge to standard notions of informed consent, building on L.A. Paul's concept of transformative experiences (TEs). The author argues that PAT qualifies as a special kind of TE because of its distinctive ineffability. Distinguishing between "valid consent" and "substantially informed consent," the author contends that whether valid consent is possible depends on whether TEs are causally necessary for PAT's therapeutic effects. Regardless, substantially informed consent is impossible for PAT because the experience's ineffability prevents meeting the materiality conditions required for informed consent.
The article examines how transformative experiences, as defined by philosopher L.A. Paul, challenge informed consent for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). Paul's concept describes experiences that fundamentally change a person's perspective and cannot be fully understood beforehand. The author argues PAT is a special kind of transformative experience because its effects are particularly ineffable. Two versions of informed consent are distinguished: valid consent and substantially informed consent. The author contends that whether valid consent is possible depends on whether transformative experiences are causally necessary for PAT's therapeutic effects. Regardless of that causal question, the author argues substantially informed consent for PAT is impossible because patients cannot meet the materiality conditions required for truly informed consent.