RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Transcranial magnetic stimulation: a historical evaluation and future prognosis of therapeutically relevant ethical concerns
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 137
OP 143
DO 10.1136/jme.2010.039966
VO 37
IS 3
A1 Jared C Horvath
A1 Jennifer M Perez
A1 Lachlan Forrow
A1 Felipe Fregni
A1 Alvaro Pascual-Leone
YR 2011
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/37/3/137.abstract
AB Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neurostimulatory and neuromodulatory technique increasingly used in clinical and research practices around the world. Historically, the ethical considerations guiding the therapeutic practice of TMS were largely concerned with aspects of subject safety in clinical trials. While safety remains of paramount importance, the recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of the Neuronetics NeuroStar TMS device for the treatment of specific medication-resistant depression has raised a number of additional ethical concerns, including marketing, off-label use and technician certification. This article provides an overview of the history of TMS and highlights the ethical questions that are likely arise as the therapeutic use of TMS continues to expand.