Ethical Challenges and Interpretive Difficulties with Non-Clinical Applications of Pediatric fMRI

Abstract

In this article, we critically examine some of the ethical challenges and interpretive difficulties with possible future non-clinical applications of pediatric fMRI with a particular focus on applications in the classroom and the courtroom - two domains in which children come directly in contact with the state. We begin with a general overview of anticipated clinical and non-clinical applications of pediatric fMRI. This is followed by a detailed analysis of a range of ethical challenges and interpretive difficulties that trouble the use of fMRI and are likely to be especially acute with non-clinical uses of the technology. We conclude that knowledge of these challenges and difficulties should influence policy decisions regarding the non-clinical uses of fMRI. Our aim is to encourage the development of future policies prescribing the responsible use of this neuroimaging technology as it develops both within and outside the clinical setting.

Novel Neurotechnologies in Film—A Reading of Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report

“…Though the reality is much more problematic than its popular representation (cf. Fenton et al [19,20]), as Rose claims, "most accounts that make use of these technologies write as if we can now visualize the interior of the living human brain and observe its activity in real time as it thinks, perceives, emotes, and desires-we can see 'mind' in the activities of the living brain" [18:196]. It has been reported that a group of neuroscientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences have, for instance, recently announced a technique using high-resolution brain scans which they claim makes possible the ability to look "inside" a subject's brain so as to read the person's intentions [21].…”

Frontline ethical issues in pediatric clinical research: ethical and regulatory aspects of seven current bottlenecks in pediatric clinical research

“…Apart from the obvious clinical interest in pediatric fMRI, like the support of brain surgery or the diagnosis of conditions and diseases, the technique of fMRI has a great potential for developing non-clinical applications, for example in the field of jurisprudence (e.g., lie detection, moral decision making, accountability), education (e.g., memory enhancement), or marketing (e.g., consumer brand attachment, persuasion), several of which have been registered already [18].…”

“…Such an introduction of new sponsors generates specific ethical and regulatory issues, as new players in the field may lack familiarity with clinical research and expertise in dealing with research subjects in an ethical way [18].…”

“…However, in the current system of protocol assessment, most protocols of pediatric fMRI research will smoothly comply with even the lowest risk threshold due to the very low risks and noninvasive character of the research interventions concerned. In addition, risk assessments tend to largely ignore the considerable socioeconomical risks of pediatric fMRI research [18].…”

Advanced Personnel Vetting Techniques in Critical Multi-Tennant Hosted Computing Environments

“…For instance, an investigator could present a suspect with specific information such as of passwords, social security numbers, credit card information, other personal information, or other confidential corporate information [35]. This scientific technique allows intelligence operatives to focus their investigations on the suspects who actually commit crime and to determine if he or she has any un-authorized access to an organization's network or system before (See [22] [25] [26] [29] [33] [35]). On the other side, an information absent will provide support for the claims of innocence that employee is not guilty of committing any crime and has no knowledge specific to any data or any information [37].…”