Ethics in Neurosurgical Practice

Neurosurgical interventions have the potential to change a person's concept of self, as well as affect their neurological and cognitive function to an unacceptable level for both patient and family. In an increasingly complex and evolving field, the ethical implications of treatments and their eventual outcomes must be carefully balanced. Ethics in Neurosurgical Practice is a comprehensive and practical guide for managing the treatment of patients with debilitating neurosurgical conditions. Chapters address specific conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, ischemic stroke and spinal surgery, and the ethical challenges that each of these pose. Detailed case studies present potential scenarios that readers might encounter, and their outcomes. Future developments of this fast-paced field are expanded upon, including televised live surgery and the ethical aspects of innovation in neurosurgery. A broad variety of contributors in different fields, including neurosurgeons, intensivists and bioethicists, ensures comprehensive coverage from a range of views and experiences.

Table of Contents:

Introduction Stephen Honeybul; Part I. General Ethics: 1. Introduction and principles of bioethics Ian Kerridge; 2. Models and methods in ethics Cara Sedney; 3. The concept and implementation of values based medicine (VsBM) in neurosurger Ahmed Ammar and Tiit Mathiesen; 4. The three functions of consent in neurosurgery Cameron Stewart and Ian Kerridge; 5. Withholding and withdrawing medical treatment: legal, ethical and practical considerations Cameron Stewart, Tiit Mathiesen and Ahmed Ammar; 6. Surgical training Magnus Tisell and Naci Balak; 7. The aging surgeon Stephen Honeybul and Gene Bolles; 8. Healthcare economics Naci Balak and Magnus Tisell; 9. Patient data, ownership, storage, and social media David Cote and Timothy Smith; Part II. Neurosurgery Specific Bioethics: 10. Historical overview of ethics in neurosurgery Cara Sedney; 11. Evidence-based neurosurgery: principles, applicability and challenges Ignatius Esene; 12. Ethical challenges of neurosurgical care for brain tumour patients Marike Broekman, Alexander Hulsbergen and Timothy Smith; 13. Severe traumatic brain injury Stephen Honeybul, Kwok Ho and Grant Gillett; 14. 'Malignant' middle cerebral artery infarction Stephen Honeybul, Volker Puetz and Lars-Peder Pallesen; 15. Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage Stephen Honeybul and Albert Chiu; 16. Paediatric neurosurgery Naci Balak and Ulrika Sandvik; 17. Spinal neurosurgery Cara Sedney; 18. Ethical challenges in psychosurgery: a new start or more of the same? Paul A. Komesaroff and Jeffrey Rosenfeld; 19. Brain death and organ donation George Skowronski and Ian Kerridge; Part III. Future Developments: 20. Ethical aspects of innovation in neurosurgery Mario Ammirati, Jeffrey Rosenfeld and Alexander Hulsbergen; 21. Stem cells and brain repair: ethical considerations Ivar Mendez; 22. Brain machine-interface technology in neurosurgery Jeffrey Rosenfeld and Marike Broekman; 23. International neurosurgery Ann Mansur and Mark Bernstein; 24. Live televised surgery Eiichi Ishikawa, Nobuyuki Sakai, Stephen Honeybul and Akira Matsumura; Index.