Ethical and Legal Issues in Neurology

Advances in our understanding of the brain and rapid advances in the medical practice of neurology are creating questions and concerns from an ethical and legal perspective. Ethical and Legal Issues in Neurology provides a detailed review of various general aspects of neuroethics, and contains chapters dealing with a vast array of specific issues such as the role of religion, the ethics of invasive neuroscience research, and the impact of potential misconduct in neurologic practice. The book focuses particular attention on problems related to palliative care, euthanasia, dementia, and neurogenetic disorders, and concludes with examinations of consciousness, personal identity, and the definition of death.

This volume focuses on practices not only in North America but also in Europe and the developing world. It is a useful resource for all neuroscience and neurology professionals, researchers, students, scholars, practicing clinical neurologists, mental health professionals, and psychiatrists.

A comprehensive introduction and reference on neuroethicsIncludes coverage of how best to understand the ethics and legal aspects of dementia, palliative care, euthanasia and neurogenetic disordersBrings clarity to issues regarding ethics and legal responsibilities in the age of rapidly evolving brain science and related clinical practice

1. Ethical principles and concepts in medicine
2. Analysis and resolution of ethical problems
3. Hospital bioethics committees and consultants
4. Legal principles and concepts in medicine
5. Legal process, litigation, and judicial decisions
6. Ethics, law and the neurologist
7. Religion and medical ethics
8. Professional conduct and misconduct
9. Medical error and disclosure
10. Professionalism in medicine
11. Palliative care in chronic neurological illness
12. Palliative care in the dying neurological patient
13. Withdrawing & withholding life-sustaining treatment
14. European perspectives on ethics and law in end-of-life care
15. Medical futility
16. Assisted suicide and euthanasia
17. Brain death
18. Coma and disorders of consciousness
19. Neurologically imperiled neonates
20. States of paralysis with intact cognition
21. Dementia
22. Developmental impairment
23. Neurogenetic disorders
24. Technology assessment
25. Medical cost and quality and practice guidelines
26. Public policy and healthcare systems
27. Research involving human subjects
28. Clinical research in the developing world
29. The ethics of invasive neuroscience research
30. The ethics of neuro-enhancement
31. Ethical issues in research neuroethics
32. Legal issues in research neuroethics
33. Social issues in neuroethics
34. Neurophilosophy of consciousness
35. Neurophilosophy of personal identity
36. The definition of death