Abstract
The recent creation of human cerebral organoids resembling miniature brains has opened a new chapter in neuroethics. Ethical analysis of this innovative biotechnology begins with a comparative examination of the biological constitution of brain-like entities, followed by consideration of the moral status of isolated brains, the potential benefits to medical science in the prevention and treatment of neurologic disease, and potential health risks of neural transplantation. Whereas these experiments touch on philosophically fascinating questions about what it would mean to have brains without bodies, thankfully such morally disturbing prospects remain beyond the reach of neuroscience for the foreseeable future.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 7-12 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Ethics and Medicine |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Religious studies
- Philosophy
- Health Policy