New Ethical Issues in Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Current societal and technological changes have added to the ethical issues faced by people with cerebral palsy. These include new representations of disability, and the current International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, changes in legislation and international conventions, as well as applications of possibilities offered by robotics, brain–computer interface devices, muscles and brain stimulation techniques, wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, genetics, and more for diagnostic, therapeutic, or other purposes. These developments have changed the way we approach diagnosis, set goals for intervention, and create new opportunities. This review examines those influences on clinical practice from an ethical perspective and highlights how a principled approach to clinical bioethics can help the clinician to address ethical dilemmas that occur in practice. It also points to implications of those changes on research priorities.

Megalencephaly Polymicrogyria Polydactyly Hydrocephalus (MPPH): A Case Report and Review of Literature

“…Cerebral palsy is a nonprogressive disorder which occurs in the developing fetal or infant brain. Motor disorders are the most common manifestations but can also be accompanied by disturbances in sensation, cognition, and communication [ 16 ]. While the AKT3 mutation does not cause cerebral palsy, it is relevant in this case because cerebral palsy increased the risk of epilepsy [ 16 ].…”

“…Motor disorders are the most common manifestations but can also be accompanied by disturbances in sensation, cognition, and communication [ 16 ]. While the AKT3 mutation does not cause cerebral palsy, it is relevant in this case because cerebral palsy increased the risk of epilepsy [ 16 ]. It is important in this case for the prognosis of the seizures in this patient.…”

“High-risk for cerebral palsy” designation: A clinical consensus statement

“…Given the need to balance the access to or imprecision of certain elements of early detection, the complexities of multiple healthcare systems and the lack of direct and specific guidance from governing bodies in clinical and academic medicine, it falls to clinicians, implementers and researchers to work together to find common ground to serve the best interests of patients. A recent article on ethical issues in CP [8] inspired a framework that our Implementa-tion Network used to find a solution to the conundrum of early diagnosis during early CP detection.…”