Neuroethics

As defined by Judy Illes and Stephanie Bird (2006, 511), “neuroethics is concerned with ethical, legal and social implications of neuroscience research findings, and with the nature of the research itself.” Subsequent to this definition, it has become clear that some of the implications of neuroscience have a direct effect on clinical care. This is especially true when focused on neuropsychiatric illnesses, which cover a broad range of conditions that are treated by psychiatry, neurology, psychology, neurosurgery, neurooncology, neuroendocrinology, and rehabilitation medicine. These areas treat chronic, acute, and congenital health conditions across the lifespan. For instance, brain malformation or perinatal strokes can occur in the youngest of patients and have sequela throughout a lifetime. Late in life, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s commonly arise and create many challenges for patients and families. Between these bookends we have pain disorders, epilepsies, traumatic injuries, vascular insults, and schizophrenia as further examples of the varieties of illnesses that fall under this broad rubric. These conditions all involve the brain in some way as a central processing unit and as an organizer of experiences for the individual. They also involve elements of control and experience that become altered or at risk of loss for the individual.