Objetivo
The Brain ELSA is a concerted action that aims at identifying the main Ethical, Legal, and Social Aspects of Brain Research and developing ethical and legal standards applicable to brain research, neuroscience, and their clinical applications.
Brain Research is a rapidly expanding field of science. Actually, neurosciences in general are one of the areas of contemporary biology characterised, in the last decades, by a growing number of important achievements not the least being ordinary treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders. New findings in genetics, the rapid growth in neuroimaging techniques and in sub-cellular investigation, are leading to a better knowledge of brain mechanisms and promise insight into the biological origins of human behaviour. This promises a transformation of every current cultural, philosophical, ethical and legal standard.
The EC has allocated important resources to brain research and neurosciences and it seems important to study the Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects (ELSA) of these issues and to make recommendations to the EC Commission for future initiatives. In December 1994 a Euroworkshop on Ethical Aspects of Brain Research was promoted by the Istituto Psicoanalitico per le Ricerche Sociali (Psychoanalytic Institute for Social Research - IPRS) and funded by the EC. It was the first workshop on this subject organized on European basis since the beginning of the European Decade of the Brain. The workshop reached two major conclusions: i) the need to establish a European multi-disciplinary network devoted to ELSA of Brain Research, also with the aim to educate professionals and the public; ii) the need to define ethical, and legal standards specifically applicable to brain research.
Five major areas of ethical concern have been later on recognised: 1. Brain Morphology and Neurobiology; 2.Neurotransplantation; 3. Dementing Disorders; 4 Classifcation and Diagnosis of Psychiatric Diseases; 5.Psychotherapies. A large agreement was reached about the need to examine more deeply these areas. Five centres whose expertise corresponds with the five areas - were identified. These centres have remained strictly in touch during the two past years, being many of them involved in various European collaborative projects and existing scientific networks (e.g. Psychiatric Network of the International Association of Bioethics, Association for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry, European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics). As a consequence they already constitute a first embryo of a European network on ELSA of Brain Research. These centres aim now at giving a formal structure to this network and to produce some definite results. Each centre will make a report on the area of its competence following the same method: i) an overview and comparison of the scientific literature, existing guidelines, and statements of professional association and consumers', and patients' organization; ii) presentation of some case studies. Two major questions will be addressed: 1)Which are the main reasons of ethical, legal, and social concern in each area? 2) Are there some specific ethical, and legal standards that should be adopted to meet these concerns?
The five reports will be reviewed by a Multidisciplinary Scientific Committee according to the DELPHI method. A conference involving both the investigators and the members of the multi-disciplinary committee will be then convened.
This conference will aim at:
a) Crystallisina a consensus on the identification of the emerging ethical, legal and social issues in brain research, neuroscience and their clinical applications;
b) Proposina specific ethical and legal standards to be adopted in this field.
The research will end with the publication of: i) Final scientific report; ii) 1 educational booklet for practitioners; iii) Some videotapes of the final conference; iv) Some educational brochures for the public; v) 1 interactive CD for continuing medical education.
Ámbito científico
Convocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
CON - Coordination of research actionsCoordinador
00186 ROMA
Italia