Resumo

SAGASTI PAZOS, Lorea. The therapeutic principle facing cognitive enhancement by drugs. Med. ética [online]. 2023, vol.34, n.3, pp.649-719.  Epub 04-Out-2023. ISSN 2594-2166.  https://doi.org/10.36105/mye.2023v34n3.02.

This qualitative research uses a methodology of literature review, analysis and phenomenological analysis. Currently, there are reports of non-prescribed use, by healthy people, of drugs for the treatment of cognitive ailments. Such intake has been carried out for the purpose of enhancing specific cognitive abilities such as memory, concentration and reaction capacity. This non-recommended use of drugs has been documented through a series of research and surveys that find an upward trend in the consumption of these drugs, especially in specific sectors of the population, such as university students in developed countries. The potentiating character of these drugs when consumed by healthy people leads to the need to contrast their use with the bioethical principle of totality or “therapeutic”. Therefore, the present work aims to analyze whether or not the use of these substances can be justified from a bioethical perspective in the light of the interpretation of the principle of totality.

It is concluded that the use of cognitive enhancers may be allowed in people without specific pathology but who report a low performance in certain cognitive areas or a detriment in such capacities derived from advanced age and not from a diagnosed disease. This is if safety criteria are met and that serious and continuous research is carried out on its benefits in the aforementioned populations.

Palavras-chave : potentiation; principle of totality; therapeutic; potentiating drugs; transhumanism.