28 Engineering the Brain: Ethical Issues and the Introduction of Neural Devices

Some of the major improvements to the lives of individuals in the twentieth century came from scientific and technological developments in the fields of health and medicine. New medicines were developed; powerful new imaging devices such as X-rays and MRIs were invented; the Human Genome Project brought a foundational knowledge of human genes and how they contribute to many diseases; several infectious diseases that had plagued humanity for centuries were eliminated through new vaccines and distribution practices. Research and development in medicine and health continues in the twenty- first century-some would say at a faster rate - so that the promise for future improvements in health is enormous. Nevertheless, as suggested in many of the readings in this volume, technological advances come with social consequences, and this is as true for medicine and health as for other domains of technology.