Risks and benefits may turn out to be finely balanced (original) (raw)

Nature volume 457, page 532 (2009) Cite this article

Sir

Henry Greely and colleagues' Commentary (Nature 456, 702–705; 2008) is the latest in a series of expert-led deliberations on the prospects and implications of cognitive-enhancing drugs (see, for example, refs 1, 2, 3). Much of the debate on enhancement, as illustrated by the Commentary, is highly speculative and rests on assumptions that are not well grounded in evidence or experience. There are three key problematic areas.

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References

  1. Academy of Medical Sciences Brain Science, Addiction and Drugs (AMS, 2008).
  2. British Medical Association Boosting Your Brain Power: Ethical Aspects of Cognitive Enhancements (BMA, 2007).
  3. Foresight Drugs Futures 2025? (UK Department of Trade and Industry, 2005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
    Simon J. Williams
  2. Institute for Science and Society, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
    Paul Martin

Authors

  1. Simon J. Williams
  2. Paul Martin

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Further discussion of the Commentary and the related Correspondence contributions is welcome at Nature Network. Please click here to have your say.

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Williams, S., Martin, P. Risks and benefits may turn out to be finely balanced.Nature 457, 532 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/457532a

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