"I am convinced that to truly heal, we must not only understand how the body functions, but also deeply reflect on what it means to be human. And this ethical reflection—rigorous and rooted in clinical reality—deserves to be encouraged and developed."
During my early university years, I had the privilege of taking part in fundamental brain research, exploring the complexity of its structure and function at the cellular level. This scientific immersion allowed me to develop a deep understanding of neurological mechanisms, along with a lasting admiration for the complexity of the human being.
As a pediatric neurologist—a profession I embraced after my studies—I have accompanied many children and their families through extremely delicate clinical situations. My work has exposed me to medical decisions with profound implications, not only on a biological level but also on a human one. Early on, I felt the need to enrich my medical practice with philosophical reflection on my role, my specialty, and the human dimensions of modern medicine.
This need led me to pursue a master’s degree in bioethics. There, I discovered the richness of philosophical thought, from Ancient Greece to contemporary debates. I learned to view science differently—not just as a quest to understand the human body, but also as an ethical journey. How should we act? What is a just action? How can we reconcile therapeutic effectiveness with respect for human dignity? These questions became central to my thinking.
In my specialty, epilepsy, these questions take on a particular urgency. The treatments we offer—whether medications, brain resections, or implants—can, in some cases, alter a person’s identity. When the treatment of a disease directly affects consciousness, self-experience, or the very essence of the individual, it is not enough to ask whether the intervention works—we must also ask whether it is morally justifiable.
It was in this context that I discovered neuroethics, an interdisciplinary field that brings together neurology, neuroscience, philosophy, and the humanities. Neuroethics explores the relationship between the brain, the mind, and what we call the "soul." It raises fundamental questions about the nature of the human person—questions to which science alone cannot provide answers.
The Philanthropic Fund for Ethics in Medicine and Neuroscience
Today, I wish to contribute to the growth of this reflection. That is why I decided, in collaboration with the IRCM Foundation and Dr. Eric Racine’s team, who leads the Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, to create the Fund for the Advancement of Health Ethics, with particular attention to neuroethics. This fund aims to support education, research, and dialogue around the major ethical issues linked to medical and scientific advances, especially in the fields of neurology and neuroscience.
I am convinced that to truly heal, we must not only understand how the body functions, but also deeply reflect on what it means to be human. And this ethical reflection—rigorous and rooted in clinical reality—deserves to be encouraged and developed.
Dr. Paola Diadori
Pediatric Neurologist
Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatric Neurology at CHU Sainte-Justine,
Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal
