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Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

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Published on: July 24, 2019

Perspectives on "harm" in personalized medicine.

Aaron L Sarvet¹, Mats J Stensrud²

¹Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, MA 01060, United States.

American Journal of Epidemiology

|July 20, 2023

Summary

Defining "harm" mathematically is crucial for personalized medicine and epidemiology. This study uses causal language to explore distinct harm definitions, highlighting their practical and philosophical impacts on decision-making in medicine and law.

Keywords:

causal inference counterfactuals decision theory personalized medicine

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Area of Science:

Causal inference
Medical ethics
Epidemiology

Background:

Avoiding harm is a core principle in personalized medicine and epidemiology.
The mathematical definition of harm remains a subject of debate.
Existing definitions of harm lack a unified causal framework.

Purpose of the Study:

To formally define and distinguish various mathematical translations of
harm
using causal language.
To explore the practical and philosophical implications of different harm definitions.
To connect these considerations to established principles in medical ethics and legal practice.

Main Methods:

Application of formal causal inference language.
Comparative analysis of distinct harm definitions.
Literature review connecting causal definitions to medical and legal ethics.

Main Results:

Identified and clarified common, yet distinct, mathematical definitions of harm.
Demonstrated that the choice of harm definition has significant practical consequences for decision-making.
Established a link between causal definitions of harm and ethical/legal considerations.

Conclusions:

A precise, causal definition of harm is essential for consistent application in personalized medicine and epidemiology.
Commitment to a specific definition of harm influences ethical judgments and legal interpretations.
Formal causal language provides a robust framework for analyzing and resolving disputes over the definition of harm.