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Neural Transplantation and Medical Ethics: A Contemporary History of Moral Concerns Regarding Cerebral Stem Cell and Gene Therapy

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Handbook of Neuroethics

Abstract

The possibilities of brain transplantation, neural transplants, and neural grafting as well as early approaches of gene therapies have inspired the fantasies and optimism of both scientists and the public. They have also caused hopes and fears at the same time, which are reflected in ethical debates about their use and usefulness in medicine. Based on the scientific and public discourse about neural transplants and genetic interventions in a broad understanding, the aim of this chapter is to reconstruct the major aspects of the development of a medical technology and the ethical concerns, which have accompanied its application since the 1890s. Ethical debates may vary in different countries based on different cultures and traditions. Therefore, we must stress that the main focus of this chapter is based on the English and German literature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, University of Ulm, 89069, Ulm, Germany

    Heiner Fangerau

  2. History, Philosophy, and Ethics of Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Am Pulverturm 13, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Norbert W. Paul

Authors
  1. Heiner Fangerau
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  2. Norbert W. Paul
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Correspondence to Heiner Fangerau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Jens Clausen

  2. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

    Neil Levy

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Fangerau, H., Paul, N.W. (2015). Neural Transplantation and Medical Ethics: A Contemporary History of Moral Concerns Regarding Cerebral Stem Cell and Gene Therapy. In: Clausen, J., Levy, N. (eds) Handbook of Neuroethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4707-4_127

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4707-4_127

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-4706-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-4707-4

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