The triangle of enhancement medicine, disabled people, and the concept of health - a new challenge for HTA, health research and health policy

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #23.

This report is intended as a discussion primer for two challenges increasingly faced by health technology assessment (HTA), health impact assessment (HIA), health needs assessment, parliamentary technology assessment (PTA), participatory technology assessment, policy makers in numerous areas, health care administrators, health workers and health care workes, government officials such as those from Alberta Health and Wellness, health researchers, medical and other academic researchers, Social Development Canada, people involved in the social well-being index, marginalized groups such as disabled people, and the general public.

One challenge relates to the ever-increasing ability of science and technology research and development (R&D) products to modify the appearance and functioning of the human body beyond existing norms and species-typical boundaries and to modify the appearance of a third-generation model and determinants of health, disease, disability, and well-being, which incorporate, condone, and even support human performance enhancement beyond species-typical boundaries.

The other challenge relates to the changing role of disabled people in the public and policy sphere from a passive recipient role toward an active, participatory, and shaping role.

NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved to IHE. Documents produced in and prior to 2006 have different formats; the format was determined by the agency for which the document was produced.