ETHENTECH

Ethics of enhancement technology

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The main objective of this ETHENTECH project is to take substantially further forward both the ethical evaluation and public discussion of two important emerging fields of micro- and nanobiotechnology which pose very significant ethical and societal issues of public concern: neurological implants and the potential for human functional enhancement. Neural implants are a major new class of medical devices, which create an interface between nerve tissues and nano- or micro-scale probes. The aim is to enable a patient’s nervous system to communicate with new devices that replace or supplement a malfunctioning organ, for example to restore hearing or eyesight or to treat degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Human functional enhancement technology refers to a wide range of converging technologies which have the potential to enable significant modification of the systems of the human body, beyond what might be seen as medical purposes. The subjects of the ETHENTECH project address some of the most far-reaching fields among new and emerging technologies today - in terms of their potential social impact and the challenges these will pose to ethical issues and values of European citizens and societies. The project’s two fields of implant and human enhancement technologies both lack ethical frameworks and European and international guidelines. This absence reflects the emerging and complex nature of both areas. They also represent cases where issues of dual use are a significant and further complicating factor. While several EC and other projects have given useful overviews of the ethical terrain, it is clear that there is now a pressing need to engage in more depth with particular issues in order to focus ethical frameworks and guidelines around particular issues.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Nanotechnology promises a range of medical and non-medical interventions, from correcting hearing loss to improving behaviour. However, the exciting developments have researchers considering the ethical implications of human functional enhancement and wondering where to draw the line.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The key point of contention in human functional enhancement is neural implants. The devices are fairly new and create an interface between nerve tissues and probes to supplement malfunctioning organs. This is great news for persons in need of medical intervention to treat degenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, or to restore eyesight.

However, what about interventions that could be perceived as elective, such as improving behaviour? EU groups and projects have called for more work on the ethical implications of the implants because of the blurred lines between medical and non-medical use.

Closing the knowledge gap, the EU funded project 'Ethics of enhancement technology' (ETHENTECH) advanced work on the ethics of neural implants by analysing expert and public views on the topic. It did so by examining the views of experts and the public through several methods such as convergence seminars and deliberative meetings of citizens card games.

The result was the development of two models for participative discussion procedures on the ethics of human enhancement. One model is particularly useful for examining broader issues, while the other is for more detailed matters.

Importantly, both models are useful for framing relevant ethical issues for other applications of nanotechnologies with enhancement procedures.

Examples include surveillance technologies and neuro-pharmaceuticals. Using these models, ETHENTECH looked at the differences between expert and public views on human enhancement.

Results showed that the public is primarily concerned with broader issues and is also influenced by religious concerns. Some key points are whether or not nanotechnology is bad or good for humanity, and if it should be subject to government regulation. Additionally, the public is mostly concerned with the use of implants for non-therapeutic purposes, while scientists are concerned with specific applications of the technology.

More work is needed to create a consensus among scientists, stakeholders and the public on the applications of nanotechnology, particularly non-medical ones.

This will be key for informing EU policymaking and research on nanotechnology as the science and its applications advance from science fiction to reality.