Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>This chapter covers ethical challenges faced by surgeons practicing functional neurosurgery. The exploration of issues surrounding this set of surgeries presents especially interesting problems given the effects, potential or actual, on patient's quality of life in the attempt to restore or normalize a function. The chapter sets the context by briefly discussing the special challenges of surgical ethics in general, defines ‘functional neurosurgery’, and reviews the past, present, and expected future of functional neurosurgery. After setting this context, it addresses a variety of prominent ethical issues. It pays special attention to the context in which issues arise and reflect on ethical challenges to functional neurosurgery as a discipline.</jats:p>