The aim of this article is to conceptualize autonomy in the context of chronic physical illness. To this end, we compare and contrast a selection of contemporary philosophical theories of autonomy with social scientific perspectives on chronic illness, particularly models of disability and symbolic interactionism. The philosophical theories mainly depart from a positive conceptualization of autonomy, which involves actively shaping one's life and identifying with fundamental values. This conceptualization is preferred over a negative conceptualization, which defines autonomy as non-interference, for its compatibility with social models of disability and with the assumption that people are interdependent. Interference may disable, but also enable people with a chronic illness to shape their lives. What matters is that people can realize what they want to realize. We suggest that, in the context of chronic physical illness, autonomy might be conceptualized as correspondence between what people want their lives to be like and what their lives are actually like. Disturbed autonomy might be restored either by expanding opportunities to arrange life or by adjusting how one wants life to be arranged. The grounds for the latter approach might be questioned, first, if people have not adjusted what they want carefully, and second, if reorganization of the material and social environment would have made it unnecessary to adjust one's arrangement of life.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1363459308090052 | DOI Listing |
Hepatol Commun
November 2024
Human Immunology Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Background: HCC develops in the context of chronic inflammation; however, the opposing roles the immune system plays in both the development and control of tumors are not fully understood. Mapping immune cell interactions across the distinct tissue regions could provide greater insight into the role individual immune populations have within tumors.
Methods: A 39-parameter imaging mass cytometry panel was optimized with markers targeting immune cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, and tumor cells.
Int J Bipolar Disord
January 2025
Department of Nephrology, Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
Background: A surrogate marker (a substitute indicator of the true outcome) is needed to predict subgroups of long-term lithium users at risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In this narrative review the aim is to determine the optimal surrogate endpoint for ESKD in long-term lithium users in a scientific context. MAIN: In a literature search in long-term lithium users, no studies on surrogate measurements on ESKD were identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Microbiol
January 2025
Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen 518067, PR China.
Alcohol abuse can lead to significant cardiac injury, resulting in Alcoholic heart disease (AHD). The interplay between cardiac health and gut microbiota composition in the context of alcohol consumption is not well understood. Shen Song Yang Xin (SSYX) capsule and amiodarone are common drugs used to treat alcoholic heart disease, but little is known about their microbial regulatory mechanisms in alcoholic heart disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmun Inflamm Dis
January 2025
IBD Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy.
Background: Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are a group of chronic conditions characterized by dysregulated immune responses and persistent inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and ulcerative colitis (UC) exemplify prominent IMIDs, each presenting unique challenges for their management, that impact patient's quality of life (QoL). Obesity, marked by persistent low-grade inflammation, influences the progression, response to treatment, and clinical management of patients with RA, SpA, and UC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Nurs Knowl
January 2025
Health Sciences Department, Public University of Navarre (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain.
Purpose: This study aimed to establish the content validity of the proposed nursing diagnosis (ND) "Adult Disuse Syndrome" and all its components.
Method: This is an exploratory descriptive study of diagnostic content validation under Fehring's proposal. Forty three expert nurses with clinical, teaching, and research experience analyzed the components of the diagnosis.
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