In February 2025, Durham Law School PhD candidate Miranda Wang submitted evidence to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics as part of its inquiry into the ethics of neurotechnology in healthcare. The inquiry focuses on developments since the Council’s last report on the topic in 2013.
The call for evidence, which closed on 17 February 2025, sought insights on a range of issues, including the impact of surgical implants, prostheses, and neurotechnological devices on patients, as well as the current policies and guidance for healthcare professionals prescribing or implanting such technologies.
Miranda Wang’s submission argued that neurorights should serve as a cornerstone for future regulatory frameworks governing neurotechnologies. Specifically, it emphasised the right to cognitive liberty and psychological continuity – aligning with the Council’s inquiry into the (in)voluntariness of patient treatment choices and the potential effects of neurotechnologies on personal identity.
Her submission also examined the ethical implications of neurointerventions in the carceral system, where prisoners may undergo such interventions for therapeutic purposes. Wang highlighted that the ethical concerns present in conventional therapeutic settings are amplified in carceral environments due to inherent power imbalances. This raises critical questions about autonomy, consent, and the ethical limits of neurotechnological interventions in vulnerable populations.