Military Use of Biomedical Performance Enhancements: Ethical, Legal, and Policy Concerns
Date of Event
2-24-2021
Description
Biological interventions to improve performance, such as amphetamines, have a long history of military use, and in the future, may include more advanced biotechnologies. This presentation discusses the ethics of using biomedical enhancements in the military. The presentation begins by describing the distinction between biomedical enhancements and interventions intended to prevent, treat, or mitigate disease. It then sets forth three principles to guide the ethical use of bioenhancements – proportionality, paternalism, and fairness. The presentation applies these principles to concerns raised by military bioenhancement: safety, fairness in access to military reward, carry-over effects to civilian life, whether service members can be ordered to use bioenhancements, and when they may be permitted to do so voluntarily.
Lecture Series
Elena and Miles Zaremski Law-Medicine Forum
Subject Headings
military ethics; performance enhancement and the military; military--United States; bioenhancement; military bioenhancements
Location
CWRU Law Virtual Event
Document Type
Video
Recommended Citation
Mehlman, Maxwell J., "Military Use of Biomedical Performance Enhancements: Ethical, Legal, and Policy Concerns" (2021). Conferences and Symposia. 664.
https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/law_videos_general/664