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Are Predictive Brain Implants an indispensable feature of autonomy?
Citation
Gilbert, F and Cook, M, Are Predictive Brain Implants an indispensable feature of autonomy?, Bioethica Forum, 8, (4) pp. 121-127. ISSN 1662-601X (2015) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2015 Bioethica Forum
Official URL: http://www.bioethica-forum.ch/e_index.php
Abstract
Novel predictive and advisory brain implants have been tested with
significant
success for the first time in a human clinical trial. These
implantable
brain devices are programmed to predict brain activity patterns
before specific outcomes occur and provide information to help
patients to respond to the upcoming neuronal events that are forecast.
Being guided by predictive and advisory information provided through
an invasive brain technology offers enormous potential to benefit individuals
by increasing control on upcoming symptoms, enhancing decision-
making and quality of life. However, these potential benefits do not
come free of ethical concerns. What role, if any, do predictive and advisory
functionalities play in either impairing or reinstating a patient’s
capacity
to exercise her/his autonomy? There currently is a gap in our
knowledge concerning the consequences of these functionalities on
patients’
postoperative life, in particular how it might impact patients’
decision-making as free and autonomous agent. This paper addresses
this gap by exploring whether predictive and advisory brain implants
are an indispensable feature of autonomy. In order to address this gap
in knowledge, the first part of this manuscript explores ethical concerns
regarding who is "in control" when patients are experiencing postoperative
feelings of "loss of control". Section two examines what could be
morally wrong with having predictive and advisory brain system "in
control". The third section reports findings resulting from a study we
conducted with patients implanted with these novel brain devices. Our
conclusion discusses how these findings are evidence that, rather than
being a threat, predictive and advisory brain devices are an indispensable
feature of autonomy.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Autonomy, Predictive brain devices, Advisory system, epistemic authority, |
Research Division: | Philosophy and Religious Studies |
Research Group: | Applied ethics |
Research Field: | Ethical use of new technology |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Ethics |
Objective Field: | Bioethics |
UTAS Author: | Gilbert, F (Dr Frederic Gilbert) |
ID Code: | 105048 |
Year Published: | 2015 |
Funding Support: | Australian Research Council (DE150101390) |
Deposited By: | Arts, Law and Education |
Deposited On: | 2015-12-03 |
Last Modified: | 2016-03-03 |
Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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