Ethical challenges in EEG neurofeedback: a systematic review of gaps, risks, and responsibilities
Rukiye Ölçüoğlu, Rifat Vedat Yıldırım
Abstract This systematic review examines the ethical landscape of electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG-NFB). In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search of six databases was conducted between December 2024 and February 2025, yielding 23 studies that met the predefined inclusion criteria. A qualitative thematic synthesis identified seven recurring ethical challenges: (1) concerns regarding informed consent and autonomy, shaped by uncertainty surrounding efficacy and the influence of placebo and contextual effects; (2) issues related to non-maleficence and the psychological risks associated with participation; (3) challenges pertaining to justice and equitable access to EEG-NFB interventions; (4) tensions between scientific validity and the ethical use of placebo-controlled designs; (5) questions surrounding data privacy and the governance of brain-derived data; (6) ethical vulnerabilities affecting specific populations; and (7) neuroethical concerns arising from enhancement-oriented applications. Taken together, the findings indicate that ethical analysis has not consistently kept pace with the technological expansion and commercial dissemination of EEG-NFB. Persistent limitations were identified in data governance practices, practitioner training, and regulatory oversight. The present review therefore underscores the need for standardised ethical frameworks, sustained interdisciplinary collaboration, and further empirically grounded research to support the responsible, transparent, and equitable integration of EEG-NFB into both research and practice.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Comunicação de más notícias: uma necessidade negligenciada?
Robson Gabriel Xavier Pinheiro, Luis Felipe Ferreira Carneiro, Amanda Gabriele Alves Cobiniano de Melo
et al.
Resumo A comunicação de más notícias é ferramenta essencial à prática médica, mas a subvalorização de seu ensino pode transformá-la em veículo adicional de sofrimento aos receptores. Este estudo analisou o cenário educacional e as experiências de estudantes de medicina no que diz respeito à comunicação de más notícias com base nas respostas a questionário eletrônico aplicado a 54 alunos no último ano de curso. Destes, 46,2% relataram ausência de cenário de prática que possibilitasse a comunicação de más notícias e 11% classificaram a própria comunicação como boa ou muito boa; 33% não tinham treinamento para esse cenário; e 55,5% haviam apenas acompanhado outros profissionais durante as comunicações. Demonstra-se grave subvalorização do tema no ensino médico, evidenciada pela pequena parcela de discentes que têm treinamento para atuar nesse cenário e pela proporção deles que comunicaram notícias ruins durante a graduação.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Bahrî Memlükleri Dönemi Hastaneler Dışında Sağlıkla İlgili Sosyal Hizmetler
Hilmi Keleş
Sosyal hizmetler, bireylerin ve toplulukların yoksulluk, eşitsizlik, hastalık ve toplumsal dışlanma gibi yapısal ya da bireysel sorunlarla baş etmelerine yardımcı olmayı amaçlayan, disiplinler arası bir çalışma alanıdır. Sosyal hizmet uygulamaları yalnızca modern çağın bir ürünü olmayıp, tarihsel süreçte farklı toplumsal ve siyasal yapılarda da çeşitli biçimlerde ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu bağlamda Orta Çağ İslam dünyasında sosyal yardımlaşma ve dayanışma pratiklerinin kurumsal yapılar aracılığıyla organize edildiği görülmektedir. Özellikle Memlükler Devleti’nin ilk evresini teşkil eden Bahrî Memlükleri (1250–1382) Dönemi’nde, hastaneler dışında sağlıkla ilişkili hizmetlerin sunulduğu çeşitli kurumlar da önemli işlevler üstlenmiştir. Bu dönemde mektep, medrese, hankah, ribât, kervansaray ve hapishane gibi yapılar; yalnızca eğitim, ibadet veya barınma amacıyla değil, aynı zamanda temel sağlık hizmetleri sağlayan ve sosyal yardımları koordine eden merkezler olarak faaliyet göstermiştir.
Bu kurumlar vasıtasıyla halka ücretsiz ilaç dağıtımı, gıda ve giysi yardımı, barınma imkânı ve kişisel bakım hizmetleri sunulmuş; bu hizmetlerden özellikle öğrenciler, yetimler, yoksullar, yolcular ve mahkûmlar gibi dezavantajlı gruplar ücretsiz olarak yararlanabilmiştir. Bu durum, dönemin kamu yararına dayalı sosyal refah anlayışını ve toplumsal sorumluluk bilincini yansıtan önemli bir göstergedir.
Bu çalışma, Bahrî Memlükleri Dönemi’nde hastane dışındaki tedavi merkezlerinde yürütülen sosyal hizmet uygulamalarını tarihsel bir çerçevede ele almakta; vakfiye metinleri, tarihî belgeler ve dönemin müelliflerinin eserlerinden hareketle bu kurumların sağlık ve sosyal yardımlar bağlamındaki fonksiyonlarını ortaya koymayı ve sosyal hizmet disiplini açısından tarihsel önemlerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Shared Decision-making in Emergency Life-sustaining Treatment
Jun WU, Shu LI
Shared decision-making (SDM) model has been widely recognized in the world, but its practice in China is still in the exploratory stage. SDM has a broad implementation prospect in emergency department, where patients with serious illness and their family members often face decisions on life-sustaining treatment. This article first introduces the current application status of SDM in emergency department at home and abroad, and analyzes the difficulties and challenges of implementing SDM in life-sustaining treatment in emergency department in China from the perspectives of medical system, workflow technology, ethics, policies, etc. Finally, improvement suggestions are proposed, mainly including optimizing the medical system, improving doctor-patient relationships, enhancing emphasis on SDM and implementation capabilities, constructing SDM models and decision-aid tools, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and providing policy and legislative support, etc.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Transplante de órgãos e tecidos sob o olhar dos profissionais
Maria do Carmo Fontella Soares, Letícia Westphalen Bento
Resumo Esta revisão bibliográfica objetivou tecer considerações teóricas sobre a doação de órgãos e tecidos, alternativa terapêutica eficaz no tratamento de diversas doenças e no controle de insuficiências terminais de alguns órgãos e falência de certos tecidos, com potencial de melhorar a qualidade e a perspectiva de vida de pacientes transplantados. Os principais empecilhos à efetivação do procedimento são a recusa da família de possíveis doadores, a falta de conhecimento do processo de doação-transplante e a escassez de políticas de educação continuada de profissionais da saúde que atuam na área, além dos desdobramentos decorrentes do não conhecimento. Para modificar a opinião pública, esse profissional deve atuar como educador, estimulando a população a participar de debates sobre transplantes de órgãos e legislação. É grande o número de pessoas na lista de espera em comparação ao total de doações, apesar da atitude positiva da população mundial sobre doação de órgãos.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Participant views on practical considerations for feedback of individual genetic research results: a case study from Botswana
Dimpho Ralefala, Mary Kasule, Olivia P. Matshabane
et al.
ABSTRACTKey to discussions around feedback of individual results from genomics research are practical questions on how such results should be fed back, by who and when. However, there has been virtually no work investigating these practical considerations for feedback of individual genetic results in the context of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Africa. Consequently, we conducted deliberative focus group discussions with 6 groups of adolescents (n = 44) who previously participated in a genomics study in Botswana as well as 6 groups of parents and caregivers (n = 49) of children who participated in the same study. We also conducted in-depth interviews with 6 adolescents and 6 parents or caregivers. Our findings revealed that both adolescents and parents would prefer to receive their individual genetic results in person, with adolescents preferring researchers to provide feedback, while parents preferred doctors who are associated with the study. Both adolescents and parents further expressed that feedback should be supported by counselling but differed on the timing of feedback, with preferences ranging from feedback as quickly as possible to feedback at project end. In conclusion, decisions on practicalities for feedback of results should be done in account of participants’ context and considerations of participants’ preferences.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics, Social sciences (General)
Vulnerabilidades evidenciadas pela pandemia de covid-19 na perspectiva da bioética
Pettra Blanco Lira Matos, Russell Santiago Correa, Dimitra Castelo Branco
et al.
Resumo Por meio de revisão integrativa da literatura, este artigo teve o objetivo de identificar vulnerabilidades da população brasileira evidenciadas durante a pandemia da covid-19. Realizou-se busca nas bases de dados SciELO, LILACS e PubMed no período de fevereiro a março de 2021, sendo selecionados sete artigos, que foram organizados conforme as informações a seguir: título, autor, abordagem dos estudos, objetivos e principais resultados. Foram encontradas as seguintes vulnerabilidades: negação de direitos, falta de poder socioeconômico e violência contra crianças e idosos. Estas foram sistematizadas nas categorias “vulnerabilidade por falta de poder” e “vulnerabilidade por momentos do desenvolvimento humano”. Constatou-se que essas fragilidades são historicamente marcadas na população brasileira e têm sido acentuadas neste período de pandemia, o que ressalta a necessidade de intervenção ativa na perspectiva da bioética.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
It takes a pirate to know one: ethical hackers for healthcare cybersecurity
Giorgia Lorenzini, David Martin Shaw, Bernice Simone Elger
Abstract Healthcare cybersecurity is increasingly targeted by malicious hackers. This sector has many vulnerabilities and health data is very sensitive and valuable. Consequently, any damage caused by malicious intrusions is particularly alarming. The consequences of these attacks can be enormous and endanger patient care. Amongst the already-implemented cybersecurity measures and the ones that need to be further improved, this paper aims to demonstrate how penetration tests can greatly benefit healthcare cybersecurity. It is already proven that this approach has enforced cybersecurity in other sectors. However, it is not popular in healthcare since many prejudices still surround the hacking practice and there is a lack of education on hackers’ categories and their ethics. The present analysis aims to comprehend what hacker ethics is and who ethical hackers are. Currently, hacker ethics has the status of personal ethics; however, to employ penetration testers in healthcare, it is recommended to draft an official code of ethics, comprising principles, standards, expectations, and best practices. Additionally, it is important to distinguish between malicious hackers and ethical hackers. Amongst the latter, penetration testers are only a sub-category. Acknowledging the subtle differences between ethical hackers and penetration testers allows to better understand why and how the latter can offer their services to healthcare facilities.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Why have Advance Directives failed in Spain?
Benjamín Herreros, María Benito, Pablo Gella
et al.
Abstract Background In Spain, there has been great effort by lawmakers to put Advance Directives (ADs) into practice since 2002. At the same time, the field of bioethics has been on the rise, a discipline that has spurred debate on the right of patients to exercise their autonomy. Despite all this, the implementation of ADs can be said to have failed in Spain, because its prevalence is very low, there is a great lack of knowledge about them and they have very little impact on clinical decisions. The purpose of this article is to analyze and discuss the main reasons for the failure of ADs in Spain. Main body The main reasons why ADs have no impact on clinical practice in Spain have been fundamentally four: (1) the training of health professionals about the end of life and AD is lacking; (2) there has been no public process to increase awareness about AD, and therefore people (with the exception of specific highly sensitized groups) know little about them; (3) the bureaucratic procedure to document and implement ADs is excessively complex and cumbersome, creating a significant barrier to their application; (4) in Spain, the remnants of a paternalistic medical culture continue to exist, which causes shared decision-making to be difficult. Conclusion Due to the four reasons mentioned above, AD have not been a useful tool to help honor patients’ autonomous decisions about their future care and, therefore, they have not achieved their objective. However, despite the difficulties and problems identified, it has also been observed that health care professionals and the Spanish public have a very positive view of AD. Having identified the problems which have kept AD from being successful, strategies must be developed to help improve their implementation into the future.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Forming and implementing community advisory boards in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Yang Zhao, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Bin Wan
et al.
Abstract Background Community advisory boards (CABs) have expanded beyond high-income countries (HICs) and play an increasing role in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) research. Much research has examined CABs in HICs, but less is known about CABs in LMICs. The purposes of this scoping review are to examine the creation and implementation of CABs in LMICs, including identifying frequently reported challenges, and to discuss implications for research ethics. Methods We searched five databases (PubMed, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, and Google Scholar) for publications describing or evaluating CABs in LMICs. Two researchers independently reviewed articles for inclusion. Data related to the following aspects of CABs were extracted from included publications: time, country, financial support, research focus, responsibilities, and challenges. Thematic analyses were used to summarize textual data describing challenges. Results Our search yielded 2005 citations, 83 of which were deemed eligible for inclusion. Most studies (65) were published between 2010 and 2017. Upper-middle-income countries were more likely to have studies describing CABs, with South Africa (17), China (8), and Thailand (7) having the greatest numbers. The United States National Institutes of Health was the main source of financial support for CABs. Many CABs (53/88, 60%) focused on HIV research. Thirty-four studies reported how CABs influenced the informed consent process for clinical trials or other aspects of research ethics. CAB responsibilities were related to clinical trials, including reviewing study protocols, educating local communities about research activities, and promoting the ethical conduct of research. Challenges faced by CABs included the following: incomplete ethical regulations and guidance; limited knowledge of science among members of communities and CABs; unstable and unbalanced power relationships between researchers and local communities; poor CAB management, including lack of formal participation structures and absence of CAB leadership; competing demands for time that limited participation in CAB activities; and language barriers between research staff and community members. Several challenges reflected shortcomings within the research team. Conclusions Our findings examine the formation and implementation of CABs in LMICs and identify several ethical challenges. These findings suggest the need for further ethics training among CAB members and researchers in LMICs.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Reflexiones sobre la ética de la investigación en salud indígena en Chile
Angeline Ferdinand, Ana María Oyarce, Margaret Kelaher
et al.
El objetivo de este artículo es reflexionar sobre la creación de una infraestructura de investigación ética más sólida en relación con la investigación de la salud de la población indígena en Chile. Se expone un marco de investigación ética que apunta a apoyar una relación más equitativa y colaborativa entre académicos y comunidades indígenas, lo que puede conducir a investigaciones más pertinentes y a mayores beneficios para las comunidades de conformidad con los principios de la investigación bioética. Se emplearon experiencias internacionales para informar sobre la forma en que se podría establecer una infraestructura de investigación de la salud de la población indígena en el contexto chileno. Luego, se presenta el desarrollo y la adopción de directrices para la investigación ética de la salud de la población indígena y la orientación hacia la investigación colaborativa y dirigida por la comunidad como mecanismos que pueden ayudar a lograr estos objetivos.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics, Ethics
Modelo de toma de decisiones bioéticas en ciencias de la salud
Nancy Piedad Molina Montoya
La importancia de la toma de decisiones éticas en ciencias de la salud ha promovido la generación de esquemas que orientan este proceso. El objetivo es proponer un modelo teórico de toma de decisiones bioéticas. Se hizo una búsqueda y revisión de la literatura en bases de datos y bibliotecas electrónicas con palabras clave, se identificaron y analizaron once modelos de toma de decisiones éticas según parámetros establecidos y se incluyeron resultados de estudios sobre el tema. Los esquemas analizados plantean una toma de decisiones basada en la razón a partir de un número variable de pasos cognitivos y, en general, aportan pocos elementos para su aplicación práctica. Se planteó el Modelo de Integración Razón Emoción para la Toma de Decisiones Bioéticas en Ciencias de la Salud. Este modelo sintetiza los pasos cognitivos para tomar decisiones adecuadas, mediante la integración de la razón y la emoción, la posibilidad de aplicación de diversos marcos éticos y la puesta en juego de la competencia ética y las habilidades de pensamiento crítico.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics, Ethics
Retracción de artículos biomédicos y sus implicaciones éticas
Karina Ordoñez Torres, Martha Tarasco Michel
La retracción es un mecanismo que permite la corrección de la literatura científica. Este artículo pretende demostrar que las retracciones han aumentado de manera progresiva, y sobresalen las del ámbito médico. Metodológicamente es un artículo de revisión bibliográfica, cuyos datos estadísticos se obtuvieron de estudios sobre artículos retractados, publicados entre el 2012 y el 2017, en inglés, desde las bases de datos de PubMed y Google Scholar. Entre los resultados sobresalientes se encuentran como causas más frecuentes de retracción: plagio, mala conducta, errores, fabricación y duplicación. La mayor incidencia reportada fue en Estados Unidos (EE.UU.), India, China, Japón y Alemania. El mayor índice de retracción fue para las revistas de factor de impacto bajo. El tiempo transcurrido para la retracción es largo, aunque ha disminuido. Esto permite que se citen estos artículos y se origine así una mala ciencia. Se concluye que se requiere de uniformidad en las notas y las reglas de retracción, así como señalizar de forma adecuada los artículos retractados, además de disminuir el tiempo para que esta se efectúe. En relación con la bioética, se revela un grave problema en la integridad de la literatura científica, así como un posible impacto de las retracciones en la salud de las personas
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics, Ethics
Injectable Contraceptive Introduced in Burkina Faso
Lillian Ringel
Burkina Faso’s health ministry has begun its initiative to have contraception available to 25% of married women by 2015. Depo-Provera, the injectable contraceptive, has been introduced as a “Uniject” capsule under the name, “Sayana Press.” Containing one dose of the contraceptive, the Uniject capsule is a simple device that administers a long-acting drug (it has to be administered every 13 weeks). The hope is that women in Burkina Faso will eventually be able to administer the medication themselves. This is important for many reasons but mainly because, as married women, they may not want their husbands to know they are using birth control. Sayana Press has been approved as Depo-Provera in the United States since 2004.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics, Ethics
As políticas públicas, a autonomia,a interculturalidade e as discussões bioéticas
Tatiana Bragança de Azevedo Della Giustina, José Hiran da Silva Gallo, Rui Nunes
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
El deber moral de los estados y ciudadanos de preservar la sustentabilidad
María Luisa Pfeiffer
Considerando que formular el deber ser de las cosas - la ética - es una de las tareas de la Filosofía este trabajo busca claves interdisciplinarias para establecer el deber ser ambiental. Para ello analiza algunos problemas que afectan al ambiente como espacio "natural" y humano. ¿Dónde hallar la clave en la economía, la ciencia, la política? Si bien la reflexión tiene un origen ético y busca respuestas políticas, se detendrá sobre todo en el concepto de sustentabilidad.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Modelos de tomada de decisão em bioética clínica: apontamentos para a abordagem computacional
Rodrigo Siqueira-Batista, Andréia Patrícia Gomes, Polyana Mendes Maia
et al.
A bioética tem se tornado, nas últimas décadas, um tema de importância central para a prática clínica, por fornecer ferramentas teóricas para a tomada de decisão do profissional de saúde. A questão que se propõe diz respeito a como saber se a decisão é a mais apropriada, já que uma decisão na esfera clínica - quer se esteja atuando na atenção primária, secundária ou terciária - deve, necessariamente, ser acertada tanto do ponto de vista técnico, quanto do ponto de vista ético. A literatura tem apresentado diferentes modelos para a tomada de decisão no campo de análise da bioética clínica. Com base nessas ponderações, objetiva-se, no presente ensaio, apresentar apontamentos sobre (i) a tomada de decisão na área de bioética clínica e (ii) as possibilidades de abordagem computacional das decisões bioéticas.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
The obligation of physicians to medical outliers: a Kantian and Hegelian synthesis
Marco Alan P, Papadimos Thomas J
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients who present to medical practices without health insurance or with serious co-morbidities can become fiscal disasters to those who care for them. Their consumption of scarce resources has caused consternation among providers and institutions, especially as it concerns the amount and type of care they should receive. In fact, some providers may try to avoid caring for them altogether, or at least try to limit their institutional or practice exposure to them.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We present a philosophical discourse, with emphasis on the writings of Immanuel Kant and G.F.W. Hegel, as to why physicians have the moral imperative to give such "outliers" considerate and thoughtful care. Outliers are defined and the ideals of morality, responsibility, good will, duty, and principle are applied to the care of patients whose financial means are meager and to those whose care is physiologically futile. Actions of moral worth, unconditional good will, and doing what is right are examined.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Outliers are a legitimate economic concern to individual practitioners and institutions, however this should not lead to an evasion of care. These patients should be identified early in their course of care, but such identification should be preceded by a well-planned recognition of this burden and appropriate staffing and funding should be secured. A thoughtful team approach by medical practices and their institutions, involving both clinicians and non-clinicians, should be pursued.</p>
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Planejamento para famílias homoafetivas: releitura da saúde pública brasileira
José Lenartte da Silva, Moan Jéfter Fernandes Costa, Rafaela Carolini de Oliveira Távora
et al.
Resumo Ao longo das últimas décadas, o conceito de família passou por muitas mudanças, divorciando-se do modelo nuclear tradicional. Embora a Constituição Federal tenha avançado quanto ao reconhecimento de novos núcleos familiares, ainda se omite na união homoafetiva, privando-a em termos de garantias e direitos. O objetivo deste artigo foi apontar a inexistência de preparação de estudantes e profissionais para lidar com casais homoafetivos e suas famílias. Trata-se de revisão narrativa respaldada por obras doutrinárias, legislação nacional pertinente, jurisprudência e documentos eletrônicos, como leis e normativas, que serviram de base para a elaboração do artigo científico. Com os avanços da sociedade e algumas recentes resoluções, hoje a união homoafetiva pode gozar de direitos semelhantes aos de casais heterossexuais quanto à reprodução medicamente assistida.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Bioética e processos de religiosidade entre os pacientes com doenças terminais no Brasil
Alvaro Angelo Salles
Os avanços tecnocientíficos das últimas décadas contribuíram para o aumento do número de pacientes com doenças terminais no mundo. Em decorrência da milenar conexão entre a fase de terminalidade de vida e os processos espiritualistas, esse fato assumiu aspectos peculiares no Brasil, país em que o número de segmentos religiosos/espiritualistas multiplicou-se nas últimas décadas. Este trabalho procura mostrar que a diversificação das necessidades de pacientes brasileiros com referência ao bemestar espiritual na fase final da vida pode gerar dilemas bioéticos novos para o profissional da saúde que não conheça os fundamentos das principais correntes espiritualistas do país. Defendendo que tal conhecimento é ferramenta útil para o profissional da saúde que quer observar os princípios da beneficência e do respeito à autonomia do paciente, o texto disponibiliza algumas orientações básicas das principais linhas espiritualistas brasileiras sobre os processos da morte e do morrer.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics