Weighty matters : Ozempic, autonomy and the ethics of health reform
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en
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Journal of Medical Ethics
Abstract
Ryan and Savulescu recently offered an ethical analysis of the use of semaglutide-based weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. In this response, we continue the discussion and argue that their framework insufficiently addresses structural inequalities and the broader political context of obesity treatment. Positioning pharmaceutical drugs as a solution to socially produced health problems narrows moral decision-making, causing structural approaches to appear less urgent and less important. We criticise the individualistic conception of autonomy commonly invoked to justify pharmaceutical choice, arguing that a proper definition of autonomy requires attention to social contexts—stigma, discrimination and economic inequality—that shape treatment decisions.Description
Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group. EU funding coordinated by University of Turku
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Räsänen, J & Ahola-Launonen, J 2025, 'Weighty matters : Ozempic, autonomy and the ethics of health reform', Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2025-111117