Wish-fulfilling medicine

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wish-fulfilling medicine describes interventions in the human organism that are not medically indicated with the aim of improving, changing or maintaining form, function, cognitive abilities or emotional sensitivities ( neuro-enhancement ), which are carried out under the responsibility of a doctor. This includes in particular operative , pharmacological , biotechnological (e.g. neurobionic ) and genetic engineering measures.

Examples are aesthetic-surgical and aesthetic-dermatological interventions carried out exclusively at the request of the patient or the administration of drugs that are used to influence physical functions ( doping , potency enhancement, anti-aging ) or to influence cognitive abilities or emotional sensitivities of people. Neurobionic enhancement with the use or implantation of electronic aids in the central nervous system with the aim of expanding human abilities is still at the experimental stage. Genetic enhancement concerns changes in the genetic material, for example through gene doping . Questions of medical ethics and medical law are also touched upon.

literature

  • Tobias Eichinger: Beyond therapy. Philosophy and ethics of wish-fulfilling medicine, transcript Verlag: Bielefeld 2013
  • Willy Viehöver / Peter Wehling (eds.): Dissolving the boundaries of medicine. From the art of healing to the improvement of people? transcript Verlag: Bielefeld 2011
  • Matthias Kettner (ed.): Wish-fulfilling medicine. Medical treatment in the service of self-realization and life planning. Series: Culture of Medicine, Vol. 27, Campus Publisher: Frankfurt am Main 2009
  • Leon Kass / President's Council on Bioethics (ed.): Beyond therapy. Biotechnology and the pursuit of happiness. A report by the President's Council on Bioethics, Regan: New York 2003
  • Matthias Kettner: "Wish-fulfilling medicine" - assistance for a better life? GGW 2/2006 (April), 6th year
  • A. Wienke: Legal issues of wish-fulfilling medicine: Einbecker recommendations of the German Society for Medical Law (DGMR) GMS Mitt AWMF. 2008; 5: Doc26. on-line