Your Brain On

Your Brain On... Lobotomies

Feb 28, 2024

Exploring the dark history of lobotomies, from their origins to ethical considerations. Discussing the misuse of lobotomies on minorities and veterans post-WWII. Delving into historical and contemporary perspectives on brain surgeries, including deep brain stimulation. Highlighting ethical considerations in neurosurgery and advancements in brain stimulation devices, as well as the importance of ethics in rapidly developing fields like AI and neurology.

25:00

Creator website

Episode guests

Warren Boling

Arthur Caplan

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Lobotomies represent a dark medical history, cautioning against unethical practices and emphasizing patient well-being.

Emerging technologies like brain-machine interfaces require ethical oversight and evidence-based practices to prioritize human well-being.

Deep dives

Dark History of Lobotomies and Impact on Rosemary Kennedy

Rosemary Kennedy, a young woman who underwent a prefrontal lobotomy that left her with severe motor and cognitive impairments, symbolizes the darker side of lobotomies. The procedure, presented as a solution to her erratic behavior, led to her lifelong dependency and isolation from her family. Rosemary's story, initially kept secret, became a cautionary tale that highlighted the unethical practices of lobotomies and the detrimental effects on individuals.

Introduction

2min

Unveiling the Tragic Story of Rosemary Kennedy and the Controversy of Lobotomies

8min

Exploring the Misuse of Lobotomies and the Importance of Evidence-Based Medicine

2min

Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Brain Surgeries

2min

Exploring Ethical Considerations in Neurosurgery and Brain Stimulation

11min

From trepanning to Neuralink, we’ve always been curious about operating on our brains — for better or worse.

Tens of thousands of people were lobotomized before the practice began to decline in the 1950s.

The era of lobotomies is one of the darkest chapters in medical history. Many of the period’s missteps can guide how we think about healthcare ethics today, and in the future.

In this episode of Your Brain On, we discuss:

• The origins of lobotomies, and how they became so prevalent in spite of their tragic consequences

• How evolving medical knowledge and technology led to their obsolescence

• Whether we’re about to make the same mistakes, as brain-machine interfaces like Neuralink promise a new generation of cognitive enhancement

We speak to Dr. Warren Boling about the historic context of lobotomies, how the procedure scored one of the most controversial Nobel Prize awards of all time, and what’s coming next for neurosurgical technology. Warren is a renowned neurosurgeon and director of the dept. of neurosurgery at Loma Linda University. He specializes in epilepsy surgery.

We’re also joined by ethicist Dr. Arthur Caplan, for a fascinating talk about the past, present, and future of medical ethics. Arthur is the founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health in New York City.

‘Your Brain On... Lobotomies’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 5

LINKS

Dr. Warren Boling at Loma Linda: https://lluh.org/provider/boling-warren

Dr. Arthur Caplan at NYU: https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/arthur-l-caplan

Dr. Arthur Caplan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArthurCaplan

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