Personal use of psychedelics by researchers may threaten objectivity and ethical conduct in psychedelic science. The paper explores whether such use can make investigators overly enthusiastic about psychedelics, potentially biasing study design, results reporting, and treatment of participants. Critiques of the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Therapy trials for PTSD have raised similar concerns. The authors elaborate on these risks and discuss practical strategies to reduce perceived conflicts of interest, aiming to inform policy for psychedelic research and clinical use.
A consensus statement from a 2023 meeting of 27 experts identifies 20 points of consensus across five ethical issues for integrating psychedelic medicines into mainstream medical practice: reparations and reciprocity, equity, and respect; informed consent; professional boundaries and physical touch; personal experience; and gatekeeping. The meeting included clinicians, researchers, Indigenous groups, industry, philanthropy, veterans, retreat facilitators, training programs, and bioethicists. The statement focuses on government-approved medical use in the US and abroad, emphasizing that policymakers must address challenges ahead while acknowledging the hopeful moment.
Psychedelic substances hold promise for treating many conditions, but some argue that informed consent for their use may be impossible because psychedelic experiences can be transformative in the sense defined by L. A. Paul—involving knowledge that cannot be obtained otherwise or changes in the self. This article argues that there is limited evidence that psychedelic experiences are transformative in Paul's sense, and they may not differ in transformative features from other common medical experiences where informed consent is clearly possible. Even if psychedelic experiences can be transformative, informed consent remains possible. The article closes with recommendations for how informed consent processes should reflect the distinct features of psychedelic experiences.