TY - JOUR T1 - Authenticity and autonomy in deep-brain stimulation JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 563 LP - 566 DO - 10.1136/medethics-2013-101419 VL - 40 IS - 8 AU - Alistair Wardrope Y1 - 2014/08/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/40/8/563.abstract N2 - Felicitas Kraemer draws on the experiences of patients undergoing deep-brain stimulation (DBS) to propose two distinct and potentially conflicting principles of respect: for an individual's autonomy (interpreted as mental competence), and for their authenticity. I argue instead that, according to commonly-invoked justifications of respect for autonomy, authenticity is itself in part constitutive of an analysis of autonomy worthy of respect; Kraemer's argument thus highlights the shortcomings of practical applications of respect for autonomy that emphasise competence while neglecting other important dimensions of autonomy such as authenticity, since it shows that competence alone cannot be interpreted as a reliable indicator of an individual's capacity for exercising autonomy. I draw from relational accounts to suggest how respect for a more expansive conception of autonomy might be interpreted for individuals undergoing DBS and in general. ER -