Biolawgic Course
Informed Consent and Autonomy in Neurointerventions
Introduction
“Is consent still meaningful when your mind is shaped by the technology you’re consenting to?”
Brief Topic Overview
This session explores the evolving complexity of informed consent in the context of neuro-interventions. Unlike traditional medical procedures, neural interventions often target cognition, emotion, and behaviour, directly affecting the core of autonomy. We examine ethical concerns around capacity, coercion, and therapeutic misconception, while critically evaluating South African legal frameworks that govern consent for medical procedures, particularly those involving psychiatric or neurological vulnerabilities.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Explain the key elements of valid informed consent and how they are challenged in neural interventions.
- Critically assess the ethical and legal implications of diminished autonomy in neurotech patients.
- Identify South Africa’s legal doctrines and gaps in relation to consent and capacity in brain-based treatments.
