For instance, say someone just can't stop thinking about all the bad stuff they did, would it be unethical to erase the person's memory even if they gave their consent?
2007-03-07 11:02:58 · 4 answers · asked by Me Encanta Espanol 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
No, because they would be condemned to repeating the same mistakes again and again. Especially, if the person stands to be harmed as a result of his/her memory being erased. Memory is there for a reason and it is not up to us to erase them.
2007-03-07 12:32:35 · answer #1 · answered by Patrick the Carpathian, CaFO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be totally ethical (provided that the patient gave his or her consent). Why should it be unethical? We cut cancerous tumors from our bodies, right? Bad memories are similar to cancerous tumors. They should be erased, if they cause severe pain and suffering.
The only problem is that such a procedure is impossible. How do you erase memories? It is absolutely impossible and never will be possible. How would a doctor know what memories we have inside out heads? How would he be able to separate "good" memories from "bad" memories? It's all just a fantasy.
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2007-03-07 11:12:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sign on the dotted line and sit back and relax. Yes
Problem: If the person with their memory being erased is erased, would they remember what happened and thus there would be no ethical argument.
2007-03-07 11:15:24 · answer #3 · answered by pozitive thinking 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with consent, maybe not...but it sounds unhumane because of the risk of losing a person's entire life. If the memory stems back from childhood that person would have a bigger set of problems to face.
2007-03-07 11:12:41 · answer #4 · answered by Jess 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋