Psychosurgery and personality--some legal considerations.

The practice of psychosurgery is subjected to different rules, sometimes written, often unwritten, in the different jurisdictions. No commonly accepted definition on what psychosurgery exactly is has been given by the national legislatures. Some legislatures have simply outlawed psychosurgery; some have no specific rules; others have provided a stable legal basis to it, while protecting the patient (informed consent; review committees; second opinions).