title: Ethics of tobacco harm reduction from a liberal perspective.
abstract: Mixed evidence on the possible harms, benefits and usage patterns of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS, or 'e-cigarettes'), has led to vigorous and ongoing debates on the issue. The ethical trade-off often represented is that, though smokers should be permitted access to ENDS as a less harmful alternative to smoking, this comes at the expense of non-smokers and children who may experiment with ENDS, become addicted to them, or experience health issues from long-term exposure to passive ENDS vapour. Lacking from many debates is a balanced analysis based on sound ethical reasoning, so this paper aims to examine the issue from a liberal perspective. More specifically, focus is on how ENDS policy can help to promote freedom in a broader sense, with 'freedom' considered as originating from having options and the necessary information and ability to autonomously choose between these options.
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van der Eijk
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000941:ethics; D028663:Ethical Theory; D033161:Government Regulation; D040261:Harm Reduction / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D012846:Singapore; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000941:ethics*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Autonomy; Drugs and Drug Industry; Ethics; Health Promotion; Public Health Ethics