Disciplines
Bioethics and Medical Ethics
Abstract
In lieu of an abstract, below is the first paragraph of the paper.
The desire for mind and body enhancement may be intrinsic to human nature. Individuals continually engage in behaviors like eating, exercising, or using chemicals such as caffeine or alcohol, in an effort to enhance mind and body for personal desire. The principle of autonomy and free will allows the individual the right to selfdetermination, freedom, and independence, although it is not an absolute right (Aiken, 2004). A healthy person can choose medical treatments like sildenafil citrate (Viagra) or more invasive treatments like cosmetic surgery to achieve personal outcomes. Neuroscience, or cosmetic neurology, uses pharmacological interventions such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and stimulants to enhance brain functioning by altering the neurotransmitters that affect mood and cognition. Cosmetic neurology by its nature is more complex than self-medicating at Starbucks.
First Page
1
Last Page
3
Recommended Citation
Barbagallo, Donna. "Pill Thinkers: Ethical Implications of Cosmetic Neurology." The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research 8 (2006): 1-3. Web. [date of access]. <https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/ur/vol8/iss1/3>.