“One of the major ethical concerns we highlight in our guidelines is the undermining of human autonomy,” Erden says. Take, for example, the drug amphetamine. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a medical context, amphetamine is a treatment that helps people with ADHD control certain symptoms. As a side effect, it can increase mood swings or anxiety, which can affect the user’s decision-making and autonomy.
The benefits may outweigh these risks in a medical setting. However, amphetamine can also be used as an enhancer to increase alertness, concentration and self-confidence in healthy people, obviously with side effects and health risks. According to the guidelines, researchers must limit the impairment of a person’s autonomy in any human enhancements they research or develop.
