The quest for speed has increasingly driven the course of progress. The history of technology records remarkable innovations to advance the cause of speed in communication and travel in particular. Emerging neuropharmaceutical technologies now introduce the prospect of accelerating the speed of thought.

Some time ago on a hospital ethics committee consult, the patient was an anencephalic child, born in the hospital’s NICU.  The physician had brought the case to the committee and held the view that no symptoms should be treated aggressively.

This is the second part of a colloquium given at Trinity International University. 

Bibliography of Resources cited:

Addicott, M. A.; Yang, L. L.; Peiffer, A. M., et al. “The Effect of Daily Caffeine Use on Cerebral Blood Flow: How Much Caffeine Can We Tolerate?” Human Brain Mapping Feb 13, 2009.

When the UK Xenotransplantation Authority approached the possibility of using organs from animals to save human lives there were three kinds of questions. Is it safe? Will it work? Is it right? These seem highly relevant questions as we hear of the tremendous advances of neuroscience, which will transform our understanding of the human mind and our very humanity, our behavior and our health and well being.

Is it Safe?