Pixelated Semantics

To the lobotomobile, implant man!

In societies increasingly tolerant (or ignorant) of torture and barbarity, attempts to civilise the use of psycho-surgery are much less noticed. When the researchers claim "no side effects" (on the basis of treating just five patients) by "using brain-imaging techniques... implant[ing] electrodes deep into an area of the brain that they had linked to depression while the patients were under a local anaesthetic" its probably time to be asking questions. The UK Daily Mail plays along nicely with their description of it as "a sunshine implant".

Some "may be helped by deep brain stimulation" - but is this also paving the road for arbitrary and compulsory intervention in an anti-social and gruesome manner more problematic than the "symptoms"? Researchers ought to first decide if depression is universally a "negative" as stated or if it's actually a vital part of the creative processes of life.

^* Note: According to the Wiki, the lobotomy procedure was popularized in the USA by one Walter Freeman. Between 1936 through the 1950s, he apparently advocated lobotomies throughout the US, travelling in a van he called his "lobotomobile", demonstrating the procedure.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 9:48 am ::