The Ethics of Cancer Care for People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

In this chapter, we examine how case reports of cancer treatment for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities describe their inclusion in research and medical decision making and bring forward assumptions regarding their capacity for engagement in their cancer care. Looking at case reports as “social practices” that generate and sustain ideas about deservingness and configure resources for patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in particular ways, we bring forth several key points about cancer treatment for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and offer recommendations for ethical treatment practices. We find examples in the case reports of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, of their not receiving standard-of-cancer-care, their exclusion from cancer research, and their limited engagement in decision making about their care. Several cases, however, highlight recommendations for ethical care, including interprofessional team-based care that facilitates patient engagement in decision making and support for the oncology team.