Cognitive enhancement in children and adolescents: Is it in their best interests?

Evidence suggests children and adolescents are consuming stimulants and nonstimulants in the hopes of improving academic performance through cognitive enhancement. As such, clinicians may be faced with requests to prescribe enhancers for their paediatric patients. In this article, we analyse the eth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Paediatrica 2013-12, Vol.102 (12), p.1118-1124
Main Authors: Gaucher, N, Payot, A, Racine, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Best interests
Central Nervous System Stimulants
Child
Cognitive enhancement
Ethics
Humans
Neuroenhancement
Nootropic Agents
Pediatrics - ethics
Pediatrics - standards
Stimulants
Teenagers
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Summary:Evidence suggests children and adolescents are consuming stimulants and nonstimulants in the hopes of improving academic performance through cognitive enhancement. As such, clinicians may be faced with requests to prescribe enhancers for their paediatric patients. In this article, we analyse the ethics of cognitive enhancement in paediatrics in the light of the best interests standard, a guiding principle, often used to make decisions for minors in moral, legal, social and medical contexts. Conclusion Cognitive enhancement in children and adolescents does not represent an ethical ideal that societies should strive for. Furthermore, paediatric cognitive enhancement does not meet the criteria for a minimally acceptable practice, given the health‐related risks posed by these medications and the coercive environments such a practice creates. In line with a recent policy statement by the American Academy of Neurology, ethical and clinical arguments based on the best interests of paediatric patients encourage clinicians to refrain from engaging in this practice.
ISSN:0803-5253
1651-2227
DOI:10.1111/apa.12409