From vision to action: Canadian leadership in ethics and neurotechnology

Judy Illes; Nir Lipsman; Patrick J McDonald; Viorica Hrincu; Jennifer Chandler; Alfonso Fasano; Peter Giacobbe; Clement Hamani; George M Ibrahim; Zelma Kiss; Ying Meng; Tejas Sankar; Lutz Weise

doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2021.06.012

From vision to action: Canadian leadership in ethics and neurotechnology

Int Rev Neurobiol. 2021:159:241-273. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2021.06.012. Epub 2021 Jul 31.

Authors

Judy Illes¹, Nir Lipsman², Patrick J McDonald³, Viorica Hrincu⁴, Jennifer Chandler⁵, Alfonso Fasano⁶, Peter Giacobbe⁷, Clement Hamani², George M Ibrahim⁸, Zelma Kiss⁹, Ying Meng², Tejas Sankar¹⁰, Lutz Weise¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: jilles@mail.ubc.ca.
² Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁵ University of Ottawa, Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁶ Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁸ Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁹ Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁰ Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
¹¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

PMID: 34446249
DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2021.06.012

Abstract

This chapter explores the complex neuroethical aspects of neurosurgery and neuromodulation in the context of Canadian healthcare and innovation, as seen through the lens of the Pan Canadian Neurotechnology Ethics Consortium (PCNEC). Highlighted are key areas of ethical focus, each with its own unique challenges: technical advances, readiness and risk, vulnerable populations, medico-legal issues, training, and research. Through an exploration of Canadian neurotechnological practice from these various clusters, we provide a critical review of progress, describe opportunities to address areas of debate, and seek to foster ethical innovation. Underpinning this comprehensive review are the fundamental principles of solution-oriented, practical neuroethics, with beneficence and justice at the core. In our view, it is a moral imperative that neurotechnological advancements include a delineation of ethical priorities for future guidelines, oversight, and interactions.

Keywords: Canada; Ethics; Neuroethics; Neuromodulation; Neurotechnology.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biotechnology*
Canada
Ethics*
Humans
Leadership*
Neurosciences*