Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics
October 1, 2022
Andrew Peterson, D. Sisti
11 citations
The authors argue that the concept of personal identity is central to ethical debates about emerging neurotechnologies, such as deep brain stimulation and memory modification. They contend that these technologies can alter traits and memories in ways that raise concerns about continuity of self. The paper examines philosophical accounts of personal identity and applies them to clinical and research contexts, suggesting that ethical evaluation must consider how interventions affect a person's narrative identity. The authors conclude that a nuanced understanding of identity is necessary for responsible development and use of neurotechnologies.
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics
September 27, 2024
Daniel Villiger
10 citations
Classic serotonergic psychedelics are seeing renewed clinical use, reviving ethical debates about patient vulnerability during psychedelic-assisted therapy. This vulnerability stems from impaired autonomy: psychedelics diminish decision-making capacity, reduce controllability, and limit resistance to external influences. The paper analyzes five proposed safety measures, finding preparatory sessions, advance directives, and specific training and oversight useful, while starting with a lower dosage and no therapy is less effective. It then introduces an overlooked but potentially highly effective and feasible safety measure: bringing a close person to the psychedelic session.
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics
October 1, 2022
K. Rasmussen, D. Olson
9 citations
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Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics
July 1, 2000
Steve Heilig
Ram Dass, formerly Richard Alpert, is a prominent American spiritual teacher who earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford and taught there and at Harvard before traveling to India, where his guru gave him the name Ram Dass ("Servant of God"). He has been active in charitable service organizations, especially those providing healthcare to underserved populations. His books include Be Here Now, How Can I Help, Compassion in Action, and Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying, which addresses navigating life's later stages with spiritual wisdom.