PERSPECTIVE article
Front. Med.
Sec. Regulatory Science
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1595213
Beyond Human Limits: The Ethical, Social, and Regulatory Implications of Human Enhancement
Provisionally accepted
- Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research (IRCCS), Milano, Italy
Select one of your emails
You have multiple emails registered with Frontiers:
Notify me on publication
Please enter your email address:
If you already have an account, please login
You don't have a Frontiers account ? You can register here
Human enhancement involves interventions that enhance physical or cognitive performance or overall well-being beyond typical human limits. The consequence of human enhancement has the potential to radically reshape society and the very existence of our species, requiring careful consideration of its ethical and regulatory boundaries. In this paper, we explore current applications of human enhancement, including motor neuro -prostheses, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and gene therapy. We analysed key unresolved challenges and potential solutions, focusing on regulatory and policy frameworks, ethical considerations in clinical research, transparency through registries, traceability of interventions, and the role of informed decision-making and consent. Finally, we critically examine the evolving definition of health and the need to delineate clear boundaries between prevention and enhancement. By addressing these issues, this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing dialog on the responsible development and implementation of human enhancement technologies.
Keywords: Human Enhancement, gene editing, Regulatory, Ethics, cognitive enhancement, Physical enhancement
Received: 18 Mar 2025; Accepted: 27 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gerardi and Xinaris. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Chiara Gerardi, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research (IRCCS), Milano, Italy
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.