Leggett told the researchers that she “became one” with her device. It helped her control the unpredictable, severe seizures she regularly experienced and allowed her to take charge of her life. So she was devastated when, two years later, she was told she needed to have the implant removed because the company that made it went bankrupt.
Removing this implant and others like it could be a violation of human rights, ethicists said in a paper published earlier this month. And this issue will become even more pressing in the coming years as the market for brain implants grows and more people receive devices like Leggett’s. Read the story in its entirety.
— Jessica Hamzelow
You can read more about what happens to patients when their life-changing brain implants are removed against their will at latest issue of The Checkupjessica’s weekly newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things biotech. Register to get it in your mailbox every Thursday.
If you want to read more about brain implants, why not check out:
+ Brain waves can tell us how much pain a person feels. The research could open the door to personalized brain therapies aimed at treating the worst types of chronic pain. Read the story in its entirety.
+ ALS patient sets record for communication through brain implant. A brain interface could allow paralyzed people to speak at near-normal speed. Read the story in its entirety.
+ Here’s how personalized brain stimulation can treat depression. Implants that track and optimize our brain activity are on the way. Read the story in its entirety.
