Essays --

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing plain stitch of research that is making exciting discoveries and advancements in the field of medicine at an dumfounding pace. With such progress there are many ethical issues that arise concerning new innovative implants, medical devices, and diagnosis and therapeutic treatments in the field of biomedical engineering in order to make better an individuals quality of life. Neuroethics in particular has become a big topic of debate as researchers gradually decode the complex organism called the human brain. The brain has long been an enigma, its intricate inner workings perplexing even the most scholarly of intellectuals for decades. new-fangled advancements in neuroimaging, brain implants, and scientists increased knowledge of basic human psychology concerning the bases of individual behavior and personality have led to the fear that this new gained entropy has the potential to be misused by governments and other entities. Ethicist fea r that the same devices meant to help patients suffering from devastating neural diseases could be manipulated to breach singles privacy. Devices and treatments used to cure or alleviate effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons, or perhaps to help those who have mental illnesses or impairments could be used to decipher ones hidden thoughts, and even used as a way to discriminate against someone based on ones religious beliefs and values. The main areas of Neuroethics that have caused concern are brain implants and medical devices, neuroimaging, and brain machine interfacing. Implantable brain or neural devices are an exciting rapidly growing research area in class of biomedical devices. Brain implants usually function by interfering w... ... of the brain and the more complex interworkings of the human mentality. As a result the field of Neuroscience is making strides in medicine and engineering at an astounding rate with no prospect of slowing down in the near future. With such great innovation in biomedical engineering concerning brain implants, neuroimaging, and brain machine interfacing meant to improve the quality of life of individuals. The potential misuse of this technology is of great concern. As engineers grow closer to producing brain scanners that can read someones mind or neuroimaging machines that can be used to predict behavior and influence thoughts and emotions, Neuroethics must be a moral compass at the forefront of the field of biomedical engineering in area of neuroscience to ensure that ultimately the rights and privacy of the individuals the technology is meant to help are protected.