Work

Being Outside the Decision-Loop: The Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation and Brain-Computer Interfaces on Autonomy

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Recent advancements in new neural technologies raise bioethical concerns over personal autonomy, which they potentially threaten to diminish or entirely eliminate. Although caution in the application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is explicitly urged in almost every study, the debate features a definitional void as to what notion of autonomy is actually adopted by the authors. The focus on autonomy has dominated the debate to such an extent that other essential values seem to be disappearing from the bioethical horizon, becoming less valued, less important, and less visible. This paper examines the autonomy-problem by probing whether DBS and BCIs indeed threaten personal autonomy. The impact of DBS and BCIs is studied on the examples of several illnesses, whereby the well-being of a person and the importance of informed consent are taken into account to assess the influence of these novel medical technologies on autonomy.

Source: Analiza i Egzystencja

DOI: 10.18276/aie.2021.56-02

Authors: Monika Michałowska, Łukasz Kowalczyk, Weronika Marcinkowska, Mikołaj Malicki

Institutions: Medical University of Lodz, University of Warsaw

Language: English

Topic: Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations

Subfield: Philosophy

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4206768228