Recurrent and Neglected Ethical Issues in the Psychiatric Brain Stimulation Discussion

Laura Y. Cabrera, PhD 
Assistant Professor of Neuroethics 
Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences 
Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine 
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 

What are key ethical concerns surrounding the use of psychiatric deep brain stimulation (DBS)? Are those concerns shared broadly for all aspects of DBS or alternatively are they specific to the intended targeted use of that intervention? Dr. Cabrera will discuss results from a recent study conducted by a multidisciplinary research team in which they examined ethical issues discussed in both the scientific and ethics literature around psychiatric DBS. Dr. Cabrera makes the case that understanding the ethics of DBS for psychiatric interventions provides important insight into the way in which ethical concerns for a single technology might vary depending on their intended use. 

This lecture was part of the 2016-2017 Bioethics Brownbag & Webinar Series, presented by the Center for Ethics.