【多选题】Some bioethicist believe that neurological treatments may alter "brain identity".
A.
Neuroscience has led to a deeper understanding of the chemical imbalances present in a disordered brain. In turn, this has resulted in the creation of new treatments & medications to treat these disorders. When these new treatments are first being tested, the experiments prompt ethical questions.
B.
First, because the treatment is affecting the brain, the side effects can be unique & sometimes severe. A special kind of side effect that many subjects have claimed to experience in neurological treatment tests is changes in "personal identity".
C.
Although this is a difficult ethical dilemma because there are no clear & undisputed definitions of personality, self, and identity, neurological treatments can result in patients losing parts of "themselves" such as memories or moods.
D.
Yet another ethical dispute in neurological treatment research is the choice of patients. From a perspective of justice, priority should be given to those who are most seriously impaired and who will benefit most from the intervention. However, in a test group, scientists must select patients to secure a favorable risk-benefit ratio. Setting priority becomes more difficult when a patient's chance to benefit and the seriousness of their impairment do not go together.