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Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
Published in: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 2/2018

01-06-2018 | Original Research

The Beneficence of Hope: Findings from a Qualitative Study with Gout and Diabetes Patients

Authors: Isabelle Wienand, Milenko Rakic, David Shaw, Bernice Elger

Published in: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry | Issue 2/2018

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Abstract

This paper explores the importance of hope as a determining factor for patients to participate in first-in-human trials for synthetic biology therapies. This paper focuses on different aspects of hope in the context of human health and well-being and explores the varieties of hope expressed by patients. The research findings are based on interview data collected from stable gout and diabetes patients. Three concepts of hope have emerged from the interviews: hope as certainty (H1); hope as reflective uncertainty (H2); hope as self-therapy (H3). The purpose of the paper is twofold. First, it aims to underline the significance of hope in patients’ medical decision-making, as well as the beneficence of hope for patients’ well-being, and for progress in research. Second, it shows how philosophical investigations—in particular Descartes—explore the phenomenon of hope and provide medical empirical research with profitable insights and tools.
Footnotes
1
We are not speaking here about the classical form of metaphysical optimism, as it is defended by Leibniz (1952) in
his Theodicy (published in 1710). Optimism is understood here in a more psychological sense, that is as a tendency to interpret positively what happens and will happen to others and oneself.
 
2
The paper does not claim that the kinds of hope occurring in the interviews are the only existing kinds of hope. For an overview of hope theories, see Rand and Cheavens 2009.
 
3
“Spiritual” is used here in its etymological meaning: of the, related to the spirit (mens, anima).
 
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Metadata
Title
The Beneficence of Hope: Findings from a Qualitative Study with Gout and Diabetes Patients
Authors
Isabelle Wienand
Milenko Rakic
David Shaw
Bernice Elger
Publication date
01-06-2018
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Published in
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1176-7529
Electronic ISSN: 1872-4353
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-018-9853-x

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