Research Ethics Grand Rounds Lecture: "The Fluidity of the Diagnosis of Autism"

Research Ethics Grand Rounds Lecture: The Fluidity of the Diagnosis of Autism
Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Room 241, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

Zachary Warren, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Special Education; Executive Director, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD); Director, Autism Clinical Services, Department of Pediatrics and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
Stephen Camarata, Ph.D., Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences and Psychiatry

Due to effective early interventions, there are now research and anecdotal reports of children sometimes “losing their autism diagnosis” or “coming off the spectrum.” What are the ethical considerations diagnosticians and interventionists should consider when sharing this type of news with families? Is it “good” news? Is the “spot” it opens up for another child to receive intervention a worthy reason to declare the child “cured” and cease intervention services? Is the news of a child no longer meeting criteria for autism a back-handed judgment of a colleague’s diagnostic skills or professional judgment? Is it appropriate to remove the family from the supportive disability community with whom they have identified by withdrawing the label? Two of the VKC’s most experienced diagnosticians and interventionists discuss these questions.

Last Updated: 2/14/2017 3:52:16 PM

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