Freedom of Memory Today
Neuroethics, Vol. 1, p. 145, 2008
4 Pages Posted: 8 Apr 2009
Abstract
Emerging technologies raise the possibility that we may be able to treat trauma victims by pharmaceutically dampening factual or emotional aspects of their memories. Such technologies raise a panoply of legal and ethical issues. While many of these issues remain off in the distance, some have already arisen.
In this brief commentary for the journal Neuroethics, I discuss a real-life case of memory erasure. The case reveals why the contours of our freedom of memory -- our limited bundle of rights to control our memories and be free of outside control -- already merit some attention.
Keywords: Memory, Neuroethics, Neurolaw, Memory Dampening, Freedom of Memory, Therapeutic Forgetting
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