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CC BY 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurotrauma
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1771227
Review Article

Ethical Issues in Neurotrauma: Challenges and Solutions

Ahtesham Khizar 
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Abdul Ghafoor
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Inaam Elahi
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Lahore, Pakistan
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Neurotrauma is a medical field that deals with the treatment and prevention of serious injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. It presents complex ethical issues that require careful consideration and balance between individual autonomy, public health, patient preferences, and clinical outcomes. In this review, we examine several ethical dilemmas in neurotrauma, including the prevention of traumatic events, obtaining informed consent and respecting patient preferences in situations of impaired cognition and communication, determining the appropriate use of life-saving interventions, and communicating with patients and families about prognosis and outcomes. Our analysis highlights the need for a nuanced and evidence-based approach that takes into account the unique circumstances of each patient and balances the potential benefits and risks of various interventions.

Keywords

ethics - traumatic brain injuries - nervous system trauma - decompressive craniectomy - regenerative medicine


Publication History

Article published online:
20 July 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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