For years Brandy Ellis had tried everything to treat depression but nothing worked. Then one day she heard about something called deep brain stimulation, a brain implant that treats some neurological conditions. This technological intervention–that changed her life–also raises ethics questions. Because brain implants have the potential to change our personalities and our performance– where do we draw the line? Are we giving such devices too much control over who we are by using them to alter fundamental human traits like our emotions?

Note: This episode contains references to suicide.  If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, there are resources that can help you. In the US, dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis lifeline for free 24/7 confidential support from a trained listener. Or text SAVE to 741741 to reach a trained helper at the Crisis Text Line.

Show Notes:

In addition to Brandy Ellis, this episode features interviews with: 

Patricio Riva Posse, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine

Karen Rommelfanger, Founding Director, Institute of Neuroethics; CEO, Ningen Neuroethics Co-Lab;  Senior Faculty Fellow, Emory University Center for Ethics (previously director of the Neuroethics Program); Adjunct Associate Professor,  Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.

You can learn more about deep brain stimulation (DBS) here.

To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s episode guide.  

The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at greenwall.org.

For years Brandy Ellis had tried everything to treat depression but nothing worked. Then one day she heard about something called deep brain stimulation, a brain implant that treats some neurological conditions. This technological intervention–that changed her life–also raises ethics questions. Because brain implants have the potential to change our personalities and our performance– where do we draw the line? Are we giving such devices too much control over who we are by using them to alter fundamental human traits like our emotions?
Note: This episode contains references to suicide.  If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, there are resources that can help you. In the US, dial 988 to reach the Suicide &amp; Crisis lifeline for free 24/7 confidential support from a trained listener. Or text SAVE to 741741 to reach a trained helper at the Crisis Text Line.
<hr>
Show Notes:
In addition to Brandy Ellis, this episode features interviews with: 
<a href="https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=PRIVAPO">Patricio Riva Posse</a>, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
Karen Rommelfanger, Founding Director, <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Finstituteofneuroethics.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cahood6%40jhu.edu%7Cdd896d3eb4d54cd4a83508dbbf574508%7C9fa4f438b1e6473b803f86f8aedf0dec%7C0%7C0%7C638314153774800182%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MUrZljYc65ZMQgCH818wQo9TdK%2BbNnrH%2F9jtm%2FjVbbU%3D&amp;reserved=0">Institute of Neuroethics</a>; CEO, <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fningenstrategy.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cahood6%40jhu.edu%7Cdd896d3eb4d54cd4a83508dbbf574508%7C9fa4f438b1e6473b803f86f8aedf0dec%7C0%7C0%7C638314153774800182%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jHXs45ZEVitcZWbJp7ruobONCekSybMSfIQ8tlMKimo%3D&amp;reserved=0">Ningen Neuroethics Co-Lab</a>;  Senior Faculty Fellow, Emory University Center for Ethics (previously director of the Neuroethics Program); Adjunct Associate Professor,  Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry &amp; Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.
You can learn more about deep brain stimulation (DBS) <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/deep-brain-stimulation">here</a>.
To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s <a href="https://bioethics.jhu.edu/playinggod/episode-7">episode guide</a>.  
The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at <a href="http://greenwall.org/">greenwall.org</a>.

Life-and-death dilemmas. New medical technologies. Controversial treatments. In playing god? we hear from the patients whose lives were transformed—and sometimes saved—by medical innovations and the bioethicists who help guide complex decisions.

Ventilators can keep critically ill people alive, but when is it acceptable to turn the machines off? Organ transplants save lives but when demand outpaces supply how do we decide who gets them? Increasingly, novel reproductive technologies can help people have babies in ways that are far beyond what nature allows. So, when should such “Brave New World” technologies be introduced and who should control them? 

playing god? is hosted by Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. 

playing god? is a co-production of Pushkin Industries and the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

The Berman Institute has created a guide for each episode where you can learn more about the guests, the history, and the ethics issues at: bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god

Life-and-death dilemmas. New medical technologies. Controversial treatments. In playing god? we hear from the patients whose lives were transformed—and sometimes saved—by medical innovations and the bioethicists who help guide complex decisions.
Ventilators can keep critically ill people alive, but when is it acceptable to turn the machines off? Organ transplants save lives but when demand outpaces supply how do we decide who gets them? Increasingly, novel reproductive technologies can help people have babies in ways that are far beyond what nature allows. So, when should such “Brave New World” technologies be introduced and who should control them? 
playing god? is hosted by Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. 
playing god? is a co-production of Pushkin Industries and the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
The Berman Institute has created a guide for each episode where you can learn more about the guests, the history, and the ethics issues at: <a href="http://bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1697728099647000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1qmlNSYneUfyWNEnZchoSU">bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god</a>

playing god?

An Off Switch For Depression?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8cb3a333-c62b-4ea3-8c49-b0b2011b5e84/transcript

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