Leggett told the researchers that he “became one” with his device. It helped her control the unpredictable, violent seizures she usually had and allowed her to take control of her life. So she was devastated when, two years later, she was told she had to have the implant removed because the company that made it went bust.
Removing this implant and others like it could be a violation of human rights, ethicists said in a paper published earlier this month. And the problem will only become more pressing as the brain implant market grows in the coming years and more people get devices like Leggett’s. Read the whole story.
— Jessica Hamzelu
You can read more about what happens to patients when their life-changing brain implants are removed against their wishes. The latest edition of The CheckupJessica’s weekly newsletter that gives you the inside track on all things biotech. register every Thursday to get it in your mailbox.
If you want to read more about brain implants, why not check out:
+ Brain waves can tell us how much pain someone is feeling. The research could open the door to personalized brain therapies to target and treat the worst types of chronic pain. Read the whole story.
+: ALS patient sets record for communication through brain implant Brain interfaces may allow paralyzed people to speak at near-normal speed. Read the whole story.
+: Here’s how personalized brain stimulation can treat depression. Implants that track and optimize our brain activity are on the way. Read the whole story.