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Under what conditions is it ethical to offer incentives to encourage drug‐using women to use long‐acting forms of contraception?
Author(s) -
Lucke Jayne C.,
Hall Wayne D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03699.x
Subject(s) - incentive , cash , family planning , reproductive health , reproductive rights , sterilization (economics) , medicine , addiction , psychology , nursing , public relations , business , psychiatry , population , political science , environmental health , research methodology , finance , economics , exchange rate , foreign exchange market , microeconomics
Aims To stimulate debate by examining ethical issues raised by Project Prevention, a US‐based organization that offers $US300 to addicted individuals who agree to either undergo surgical sterilization or use long‐acting forms of contraception. Method An analysis of key ethical questions raised by Project Prevention. Results The important issues for debate are: (i) what are the reproductive rights of drug‐using women; (ii) does a substantial cash incentive undermine the ability of addicted women to make free and informed decisions about long‐term contraception; and (iii) how can we best assist addicted women to access good reproductive health care and obtain treatment for their addiction? Conclusions We need more research on ways in which small non‐cash incentives for reversible methods of contraception could be used in a morally acceptable and effective way to promote the sexual, reproductive and general health of addicted women.