TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuroethics and disorders of consciousness
T2 - Discerning brain states in clinical practice and research
AU - Fins, Joseph J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author acknowledges the support of the Jerold B. Katz Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/12
Y1 - 2016/12
N2 - Decisions about end-of-life care and participation in clinical research for patients with disorders of consciousness begin with diagnostic discernment. Accurately distinguishing between brain states clarifies clinicians' ethical obligations and responsibilities. Central to this effort is the obligation to provide neuropalliative care for patients in the minimally conscious state who can perceive pain and to restore functional communication through neuroprosthetics, drugs, and rehabilitation to patients with intact but underactivated neural networks. Efforts to bring scientific advances to patients with disorders of consciousness are reviewed, including the investigational use of deep brain stimulation in patients in the minimally conscious state. These efforts help to affirm the civil rights of a population long on the margins.
AB - Decisions about end-of-life care and participation in clinical research for patients with disorders of consciousness begin with diagnostic discernment. Accurately distinguishing between brain states clarifies clinicians' ethical obligations and responsibilities. Central to this effort is the obligation to provide neuropalliative care for patients in the minimally conscious state who can perceive pain and to restore functional communication through neuroprosthetics, drugs, and rehabilitation to patients with intact but underactivated neural networks. Efforts to bring scientific advances to patients with disorders of consciousness are reviewed, including the investigational use of deep brain stimulation in patients in the minimally conscious state. These efforts help to affirm the civil rights of a population long on the margins.
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U2 - 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.12.ecas2-1612
DO - 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.12.ecas2-1612
M3 - Review article
C2 - 28009244
AN - SCOPUS:85015587101
SN - 2376-6980
VL - 18
SP - 1182
EP - 1191
JO - AMA Journal of Ethics
JF - AMA Journal of Ethics
IS - 12
ER -