title: Law and ethics of deep brain stimulation.
abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a non-destructive, adjustable, and mainly reversible method of continuously giving electrical impulses into a small area of the brain via implanted electrodes. It has been established as a standard form of treatment for specific cases of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia. It is currently being evaluated for several mental disorders, dementia and even alcoholism. In spite of its growing practical importance, the legal issues have so far undergone almost no analysis. The article outlines both the essential legal questions of DBS from the perspective of German Law as well as major issues of the current ethical debate, and the correlation of both fields.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Law of the University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne, Germany.b.schmitz-luhn@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Luhn
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katzenmeier
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woopen
mesh_terms: D024803:Biomedical Enhancement / Q000941:ethics; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000941:ethics*; D005858:Germany; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy