Revertir la muerte encefálica? Neuroética del proyecto ReANIMA

Jorge Alberto Álvarez Díaz

Resumen


ABSTRACT. REVERSE BRAIN DEATH? NEUROETHICS OF THE ReANIMA PROJECT.

Introduction. The metaphor of Frankenstein’s monster and “playing God” have been updated within the clinical trials of the ReAnima Project, which aims to reverse brain death. Its promoter has stated that it does not involve ethical problems. Objective. Identify the neuroethical problems present in the ReAnima Project. Development. Three essential problems are identified: 1) how should a corpse be treated; 2) the validity of “encephalic death” as a concept; 3) the resulting personal identity if the project is successful. Conclusions. The analysis shows that an ethical framework must be created in the treatment of a corpse (in both teaching and research); we should review the definition, criteria and tests when establishing the diagnosis of “brain death”; we must think about the future of personal identity as a problem in case of successful clinical trials.

 

KEY WORDS. Bioethics, neuroethics, ReAnima Project, brain death, “playing God”, clinical trial, corpse, personal identity.


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