Exploiting Hope: How the Promise of New Medical Interventions Sustains Us--and Makes Us Vulnerable

We often hear stories of people in terrible and seemingly intractable situations who are preyed upon by someone offering promises of help. Frequently these cases are condemned in terms of "exploiting hope." These accusations are made in a range of contexts: human smuggling, employment relationships, unproven medical 'cures.' We hear this concept so often and in so many contexts that, with all its heavy lifting in public discourse, its actual meaning tends to lose focus. Despite its common use, it can be hard to understand precisely what is wrong about exploiting hope what can accurately be captured under this concept, and what should be done.In this book, philosopher Jeremy Snyder offers an in-depth study of hope's exploitation. First, he examines the concept in the abstract, including a close look at how this term is used in the popular press and analysis of the concepts of exploitation and hope. This theory-based section culminates in a definitive account of what it is to exploit hope, and when and why doing so is morally problematic. The second section of the book examines the particularly dangerous cases in which unproven medical interventions target the most vulnerable: for example, participants in clinical trials, purchasing unproven stem cell interventions, "right to try" legislation, and crowdfunding for unproven medical interventions. This book is essential reading for ethical theorists, policymakers, and health researchers, on a topic of growing visibility and importance.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter One: Talking about Exploiting Hope Chapter Two: What is Exploitation? Chapter Three: What is Hope? Chapter Four: Exploiting Hope Chapter Five: Testing Hope Chapter Six: Selling Hope Chapter Seven: Legislating Hope Chapter Eight: Networks of Hope Conclusion

About the Author :
Jeremy Snyder is Professor of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, where he has taught since 2007.

Review :
"Jeremy Synder's new book is a much needed - and highly engaging - analysis of the nature and harms associated with the exploitation of hope. In this era of misinformation, social media marketing, fearmongering and unproven medical interventions, Exploiting Hope should be viewed as essential reading for academics, policymakers and anyone interested in understanding (and addressing) this phenomenon. Using hard data and a deep understanding of relevant literature, Snyder offers unique insights into how we should think about and define both exploitation and hope." -- Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law & Policy, University of Alberta "This book combines a compelling account of the concept of 'exploitation' with insightful analysis of the real-world challenges that occur when patients try to improve their health using unproven medical interventions. An important contribution that should be widely read by members of the bioethics and health policy communities." -- Aaron Levine, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech