Bioethics as a language game: probing the quality of moral guidance in principlism.

This essay asks what quality of moral guidance is offered via the language of principlism, the lingua franca of bioethics. In particular, I suggest three approaches to principlist language via Kant, Rawls, and Wittgenstein. A 'top down' Kantian view of language would seem to offer 'pure' or 'crystalline' moral guidance as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice function as linguistic links to draw us towards universal values up or out there to engage.

Association between Difficulty Affording Medications and Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: Medications including inhaled bronchodilators are essential for effective management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and improve clinical outcomes. However, medications are a major driver of out-of-pocket costs for individuals with COPD. The impact of cost of medications on clinical outcomes in COPD has not been studied.

Practical considerations in the establishment of psychedelic research programs.

Rationale: There is increasing interest in establishing psychedelic research programs at academic medical centers. However, psychedelics are intensely psychoactive, carry considerable sociopolitical baggage, and most are Schedule I drugs, creating significant potential impediments to implementation. There is little formal guidance for investigators on navigating the complex on-the-ground obstacles associated with establishing psychedelic research programs.