Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

90.5K

Ethics in neurodevelopmental disability

Eric Racine1, Emily Bell, Michael Shevell

  • 1Neuroethics Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medicine and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|November 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This review explores ethical considerations in caring for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. It addresses decision-making, quality of life, and unproven therapies, highlighting challenges for families and clinicians.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Medical Ethics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs) significantly impact children, families, and healthcare systems.
  • Common NDDs include autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy.
  • Ethical considerations are paramount in the care of children with NDDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review common features of NDDs to understand associated ethical questions.
  • To focus on key ethical areas in the care of developmentally challenged children.
  • To inform clinicians and decision-makers regarding ethical principles.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Analysis of ethical principles in clinical practice.
  • Examination of decision-making, quality of life, and therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

  • Ethical questions arise in decision-making and autonomy for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Quality of life is a persistent ethical issue intersecting with developmental disability.
  • The use of unproven therapies and diagnostics presents significant ethical controversies.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding NDDs is crucial for navigating complex ethical dilemmas.
  • Ethical frameworks are needed to guide care, decision-making, and treatment choices.
  • Further research and ethical guidelines are necessary to address the limited treatment options for NDDs.

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderscerebral palsyethicsneurodevelopmental disordersneuroethicspediatrics

More Related Videos

Electroencephalographic Signal Acquisition Framework for Neurodiverse: A Case Study of Dolphin-Assisted Therapy07:21

Electroencephalographic Signal Acquisition Framework for Neurodiverse: A Case Study of Dolphin-Assisted Therapy

Published on: June 27, 2025

635
A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research08:42

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

8.0K

Related Concept Videos

Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
2.1K
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
2.3K
Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
2.5K
Nursing Ethical Principles I01:22

Nursing Ethical Principles I

Ethical principles serve as the moral compass in the longstanding tradition of nursing, guiding healthcare professionals in their interactions with patients and families. These principles, namely autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, provide a robust framework for navigating the ethical complexities of daily nursing practice.
Autonomy
Autonomy underscores the significance of a patient's self-determination and freedom from external control. In healthcare, respecting...
4.8K
Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
1.1K
Ethics and Bioethics01:22

Ethics and Bioethics

Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
3.3K