VP142 Assessing Human Enhancements: Exposing And Elucidating Ethical Issues

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Human enhancement technologies need assessments, but they differ from other health technologies. Therefore we may need other methods for their assessment, also with regard to addressing its ethical issues. The objective of this paper is to describe the elaboration of a method for exposing and elucidating ethical issues with human cognitive enhancement. The approach is elaborated in order to support and facilitate open and transparent deliberation and decision making with an emerging type of technology with great potential and formative implications for individuals and society.

METHODS:

The literature search identified relevant approaches. Conventional content analysis of the identified papers and methods revealed their suitability for assessing human cognitive enhancement. Four selection criteria were applied and followed by method development. Pilot testing on smart-glasses (1) resulted in amendments.

RESULTS:

A method for exposing and elucidating ethical issues in the assessment of human cognitive enhancement technologies was developed based on three existing approaches in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) (2). The method consists of six steps and a guiding list of forty-three questions. An overview of the approach will be presented.

CONCLUSIONS:

A method for exposing and elucidating ethical issues in the assessment of human cognitive enhancement has been developed. The method paves the way for context specific ethical assessment and analysis of a new and emerging type of technology.