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Epistemic Justice

Meaning

Epistemic Justice is a foundational philosophical and ethical concept that directly addresses the fairness and equity in how knowledge, personal credibility, and clinical understanding are distributed and valued within a healthcare system or community. It fundamentally calls for clinical practices to recognize and actively validate the patient’s lived experience and self-knowledge as a legitimate, valuable source of information, ensuring all individuals are treated as credible knowers in their own health journey. This principle is vital for fostering a therapeutic alliance, building essential trust, and achieving true shared decision-making in complex areas like hormonal health.