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Brain Scans In The Courtroom

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Clare Affinito
The Use of Brain Scans in the Courtroom
Brain scans and neuroimaging, especially those obtained through MRI, fMRI, and CT scanners, have led to large advances in the world of neuroscience. In many cases, attorneys seek to use brain scans to help their clients on death row, many of whom are referred to as psychopaths because they have Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD). However, serious debate has grown around the increased use of brain scans in criminal cases. Neuroscientists, attorneys, and judges around the world are discussing the reliability, consistency, and ethical nature of these brain scans. Some professionals feel that using brains scans in the courtroom would be acceptable because they can provide a better understanding …show more content…
Brain scans can serve as an important tool that can help confirm a defendant's insanity (Kelkar). In death row cases, these brain scans could save those with APD. Many believe that those with APD should be given special considerations when on trial. They find APD to be a condition that one is born with and cannot control, therefore, they should be not punished for the crimes they cannot help but …show more content…
Brain scans have the ability to assure a jury that their actually is a problem with the defendant's physical mind. Often when jurors are not convinced what a doctor is telling them is accurate, it takes a physical scan to serve as proof that the truth is being told about one’s mental state (DeBenedicts). In criminal cases, many believe that it is important to put all the pieces of the story in front of a jury in order for the to make a just decision, and for many in the justice community, brain scans are one of the important pieces. Many find that when someone’s life is at stake, it is dire to share all the information

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