This paper examines the legal issues that may arise in the use of electronic support for cognition, knowledge processing and decision making in the medical field which encompasses a wide range of electronically based techniques simulating at least part of the processes so far considered to belong to the human intellect. It is essential that the legal aspects should be examined at the earliest possible stage so as to develop legal recommendations alongside technological progress rather than retroactively. Needless to say, the topic is extremely vast and this paper only tries to outline the fundamental legal and ethical issues, rather than to formulate detailed recommendations and guidelines.