Disorders of consciousness and communication : Ethical motivations and communication-enabling attributes of consciousness

Tamburrini, Guglielmo and Mattia, Donatella (2011) Disorders of consciousness and communication : Ethical motivations and communication-enabling attributes of consciousness. Functional Neurology, 26 (1). pp. 51-54. ISSN 1971-3274

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Abstract

Envisaged extensions of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique allowing communication with patients affected by disorders of consciousness are here examined in connection with subjective symptom reporting, informed consent, and continued medical care decision-making. The principles of medical beneficence, personal autonomy protection, and the right to participate in social life are isolated as appropriate sources of ethical motivations for the use of fMRI-enabled communication. Consciousness requirements for each communication context are identified on the basis of qualitative distinctions between the access, phenomenal, and narrative varieties of consciousness. Ethically motivated uses of fMRI-enabled communication are hierarchically organized in terms of progressively more demanding consciousness requirements for successful communication. The outcomes of this analysis can be used to curb unrealistic expectations of these new scientific developments, and to promote mutual trust between medical doctors, patient surrogates and families.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	autonomy, communication, disorders of consciousness, ethics, fundamental rights, neurophilosophy
Subjects:	100 Filosofia e Psicologia > 170 Etica > 174 Etica delle attività (Classificare qui l'Etica economica, professionale; l'Etica del lavoro) > 174.2 Etica nelle professioni sanitarie (Classificare qui l’Etica medica)(Classificare l’Etica medica relativa alla riproduzione umana in 176; classificare le opere d’insieme sulla Bioetica in 174.957) 100 Filosofia e Psicologia > 170 Etica > 174 Etica delle attività (Classificare qui l'Etica economica, professionale; l'Etica del lavoro) > 174.2 Etica nelle professioni sanitarie (Classificare qui l’Etica medica)(Classificare l’Etica medica relativa alla riproduzione umana in 176; classificare le opere d’insieme sulla Bioetica in 174.957) 100 Filosofia e Psicologia > 170 Etica > 174 Etica delle attività (Classificare qui l'Etica economica, professionale; l'Etica del lavoro) > 174.2 Etica nelle professioni sanitarie (Classificare qui l’Etica medica)(Classificare l’Etica medica relativa alla riproduzione umana in 176; classificare le opere d’insieme sulla Bioetica in 174.957) 600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 616 Malattie (classificare qui la Clinica medica, la medicina basata sull'evidenza, la Medicina interna, la Medicina sperimentale) > 616.8 Malattie del sistema nervoso e disturbi mentali (Classificare qui la Neuropsichiatria, la Neurologia)
Depositing User:	Danilo Dezzi
Date Deposited:	07 Nov 2011 11:14
Last Modified:	03 Feb 2016 09:53
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/3499

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