The world is experiencing a cataclysmically increasing burden from chronic illnesses. Chronic diseases are on the advance worldwide and treatment strategies to counter this development are dominated by symptom control and polypharmacy. Thus, chronic conditions are often considered irreversible, implying a slow progression of disease that can only be hampered but not stopped. The current plant-based movement is attempting to alter this way of thinking. Applying a nutrition-first approach, the ultimate goal is either disease remission or reversal. Hereby, ethical questions arise as to whether physicians’ current understanding of chronic illness is outdated and morally reprehensible. In this case, physicians may need to recommend plant-based diets to every patient suffering from chronic conditions, while determining what other socioecological factors and environmental aspects play a role in the chronic disease process. This article provides insights to aspects of diet and chronic illness and discusses how the plant-based movement could redefine current understanding of chronic disease. The ethical justifications for recommending of a plant-based diet are analyzed. The article concludes that not advocating for plant-based nutrition is unethical and harms the planet and patients alike.

中文翻译：

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以植物为基础的运动会重新定义医生对慢性病的理解吗？

世界正经历着慢性疾病带来的灾难性负担。慢性病正在全球范围内发展，应对这种发展的治疗策略主要是症状控制和多药治疗。因此，慢性病通常被认为是不可逆的，这意味着疾病的缓慢发展只能阻止而不能停止。当前基于植物的运动正试图改变这种思维方式。采用营养第一的方法，最终目标是疾病缓解或逆转。因此，出现了关于医师当前对慢性病的理解是否过时且在道德上应受谴责的道德问题。在这种情况下，医生可能需要向每位患有慢性疾病的患者推荐以植物为基础的饮食，同时确定哪些其他社会生态因素和环境因素在慢性疾病过程中起作用。本文提供有关饮食和慢性病方面的见解，并讨论基于植物的运动如何重新定义当前对慢性病的理解。分析了推荐植物性饮食的道德依据。文章得出的结论是，不提倡基于植物的营养是不道德的，并损害地球和患者。