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Constructing an ethical stereotaxy for severe brain injury: balancing risks, benefits and access

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 4, pages 323–327 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Societal perceptions of the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment after severe brain injury have been influenced by the legacies of the right-to-die movement and psychosurgery. Here I propose an ethical stereotaxy for severe brain injury that balances risks, benefits and access to this neglected population, in light of advances in cognitive neuroscience.

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Figure 1: Widely varying patterns of resting metabolic activity observed in patients in a chronic persistent vegetative state.
Figure 2: Cortical processing in the persistent vegetative state.

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Acknowledgements

I thank N. D. Schiff for his close reading and helpful comments, as well as A. Hudson and E. Kobylarz. An earlier version of this paper was presented as the 2002 Sheldon Berrol Memorial Chautauqua of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and American Society of Neurorehabilitation. J.J.F. is an unfunded co-investigator on a planning grant from the National Institute of Health for neuromodulation in patients in the MCS.

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  1. the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and the Hastings Center, 525 East 68th Street, F-173, New York, 10021, New York, USA

    Joseph J. Fins

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Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission

The National Research Act. Public Law 93-348

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Fins, J. Constructing an ethical stereotaxy for severe brain injury: balancing risks, benefits and access. Nat Rev Neurosci 4, 323–327 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1079

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