Ethical Principles (ethical + principle)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


NEW NATURAL LAW THEORY AND FOUNDATIONAL SEXUAL ETHICAL PRINCIPLES: A CRITIQUE AND A PROPOSAL

THE HEYTHROP JOURNAL, Issue 2 2006
TODD A. SALZMAN
The New Natural Law Theory (NNLT) argues against the morality (and legality) of same sex-unions on the basis that homosexual (and non-reproductive heterosexual) acts are unnatural, unreasonable, and therefore immoral. In this paper, we explore and critique the foundational principles , biological and personal complementarity, their subcategories, and the interrelationship between them , that the NNLT uses to justify its claim. We propose alternative principles , orientation, personal, and genital-biological complementarity, with a distinct interrelationship , to argue that homosexual couples can engage in sexual acts that are natural, reasonable, and therefore moral. Our study clearly demonstrates that for the NNLT genital complementarity, a subcategory of biological complementarity, is the sine qua non for personal complementarity. In other words, personal complementarity within a sexual act is only possible if there is genital complementarity between male and female. We believe that the NNLT's foundational principles reflect too narrow an understanding of the human person and human sexuality. Instead, we propose "holistic complementarity" as the fully human integration of orientation, personal, and genital-biological complementarity. What defines a natural, reasonable, and moral sexual act is not genital complementarity as the foundational principle, but a dialectic between these three principles of complementarity. [source]


A Justification, after the Postmodern Turn, of Universal Ethical Principles and Educational Ideals1

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY, Issue 6 2005
Mark Mason
Abstract The implementation of education programmes in different cultures invites the question whether we are justified in doing so in cultures that may reject the programmes' underlying principles. Are there indeed ethical principles and educational ideals that can be justified as applicable to all cultures? After a consideration of Zygmunt Bauman's postmodern rejection of the possibility of universal ethics, , cite and extend Harvey Siegel's defence of multiculturalism as a transcultural ethical ideal. I conclude the paper with a justification of the transcultural normative reach of moral principles that I have elsewhere defended as the ethics of integrity. The paper's significance lies in its justification of educational interventions founded in these principles across different cultures. [source]


Can you keep a secret?

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
Confidentiality in psychotherapy
Abstract Confidentiality is the secret-keeping duty that arises from the establishment of the professional relationship psychologists develop with their clients. It is a duty created by the professional relationship, it is set forth in the American Psychological Association's (2002) Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, and it is codified in many state regulations. However, the difference between confidentiality and legal privilege; how, why, and when it can be violated; and the reasons for so doing are not well understood by many practitioners. While on the surface confidentiality might seem to be an easy concept to apply to professional practice, in fact it is quite complex and filled with exceptions that frequently differ from circumstance to circumstance and from state to state. A lack of respect for and a lack of familiarity with the significance of these exceptions could have dire professional consequences. This article reviews the ethical imperative of confidentiality and then provides examples of legal cases that help to better understand its complexity. Then, we offer strategies designed to help metal health practitioners when they are confronted with questions regarding confidentiality and privilege. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 64: 1,12, 2008. [source]


Values and technology assessmentin psychiatry

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 399 2000
T. Nilstun
Economic resources for health care are limited and they should be distributed as fairly and effectively as possible. But the basis for such a distribution is far from clear. What interests are involved? What kind of provision of care is most efficient? How far should the distribution be left to market solutions? What is the proper role of health care politicians and authorities? In technology assessment a promising combination of value premises and empirical knowledge is used in answering such questions. The aim of this introductory article is to explore issues related to values and value conflicts that have implications for technology assessment. Ethical principles are discussed and related to problematic issues in mental health care such as the absence of psychiatry, the abuse of psychiatry, the definition of mental illness, diagnostic activities, treatment decisions, priority setting as well as research and development. [source]


The challenges for nurses communicating with and gaining valid consent from adults with intellectual disabilities within the accident and emergency care service

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 9 2007
Margaret Sowney MSc
Aim., This paper reports the challenges experienced by nurses within accident and emergency departments in communicating with and gaining valid consent from adults with intellectual disabilities. Background., Consent is both a legal requirement and an ethical principle required to be obtained by health-care professionals, prior to the start of any examination, treatment and/or care. Central to the process of seeking consent is effective communication. However, evidence shows that people with intellectual disabilities are not viewed by professionals within acute general hospitals as a vital source of information, neither are they often communicated with directly, nor involved in discussions or decisions about their health care and are frequently not directly asked for their consent. Method., A purposive sample of nurses working within the accident and emergency departments of five general hospitals was recruited to participate in this qualitative study. Data were collected from five focus groups. Findings., Effective communication was identified as the most challenging aspect in caring for adults with intellectual disabilities within this environment, having an impact on the assessment of needs, informing patients of their health status and seeking valid consent. Conclusions., Fundamental to the provision of quality care are the concepts communication, choice and control. However, these issues are perceived to be more challenging in the provision of health care to people with intellectual disabilities. Communication and consent, therefore, require further consideration within the educational and clinical areas to strengthen nurses' competence in caring for people with intellectual disabilities, with an emphasis and understanding that choice and control are key principles for all people, being central aspects to the provision of an inclusive service for people with intellectual disabilities. Relevance to clinical practice., All nurses need to have a greater awareness of learning disability, how to increase opportunities for effective communication and be very familiar with the issue and guidelines relating to consent, to ensure that people with learning disabilities have choice, control and are more active in decision making regarding their health. [source]


Evolution and Free Will: A Defense of Darwinian Non,naturalism

METAPHILOSOPHY, Issue 4 2002
John Lemos
In his recent book The Natural Selection of Autonomy, Bruce Waller defends a view that he calls "natural autonomy." This view holds that human beings possess a kind of autonomy that we share with nonhuman animals, a capacity to explore alternative courses of action, but an autonomy that cannot support moral responsibility. He also argues that this natural autonomy can provide support for the ethical principle of noninterference. I argue that to support the ethical principle of noninterference Waller needs either a libertarian or a compatibilist theory of autonomy. I then go on to argue that, contra Waller, the libertarian view is both compatible with Darwinism and able to make sense of how autonomous acts belong to the agents who perform them. Thus, I conclude that the libertarian position is a live option for Darwinians. If however, naturalism is taken to include a deterministic view of the universe (at least at the nonquantum level), as is often the case, then my article takes some strides in defending "Darwinian non,naturalism." [source]


ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN ACUTE EPIDEMICS: THE PFIZER MENINGITIS STUDY IN NIGERIA AS AN ILLUSTRATION

DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 1 2010
EMMANUEL R. EZEOME
ABSTRACT The ethics of conducting research in epidemic situations have yet to account fully for differences in the proportion and acuteness of epidemics, among other factors. While epidemics most often arise from infectious diseases, not all infectious diseases are of epidemic proportions, and not all epidemics occur acutely. These and other variations constrain the generalization of ethical decision-making and impose ethical demands on the individual researcher in a way not previously highlighted. This paper discusses a number of such constraints and impositions. It applies the ethical principles enunciated by Emmanuel et al.1 to the controversial Pfizer study in Nigeria in order to highlight the particular ethical concerns of acute epidemic research, and suggest ways of meeting such challenges. The paper recommends that research during epidemics should be partly evaluated on its own merits in order to determine its ethical appropriateness to the specific situation. Snap decisions to conduct research during acute epidemics should be resisted. Community engagement, public notification and good information management are needed to promote the ethics of conducting research during acute epidemics. Individual consent is most at risk of being compromised, and every effort should be made to ensure that it is maintained and valid. Use of data safety management boards should be routine. Acute epidemics also present opportunities to enhance the social value of research and maximize its benefits to communities. Ethical research is possible in acute epidemics, if the potential challenges are thought of ahead of time and appropriate precautions taken. [source]


CHALLENGES FACED BY RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEES IN EL SALVADOR: RESULTS FROM A FOCUS GROUP STUDY

DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 1 2009
JONATHAN W. CAMP
ABSTRACT Objective:, To identify perceived barriers to capacity building for local research ethics oversight in El Salvador, and to set an agenda for international collaborative capacity building. Methods:, Focus groups were formed in El Salvador which included 17 local clinical investigators and members of newly formed research ethics committees. Information about the proposed research was presented to participants during an international bioethics colloquium sponsored and organized by the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in collaboration with the National Ethics Committee of El Salvador and the University of El Salvador. Interviews with the focus group participants were qualitatively analyzed. Results:, Participants expressed the need to tailor the informed consent process and documentation to the local culture; for example, allowing family members to participate in decision-making, and employing shorter consent forms. Participants indicated that economic barriers often impede efforts in local capacity building. Participants valued international collaboration for mutual capacity building in research ethics oversight. Conclusions:, Research ethics committees in El Salvador possess a basic knowledge of locally relevant ethical principles, though they need more training to optimize the application of bioethical principles and models to their particular contexts. Challenges increase the value of collaborative exchanges with ethics committee members in the United States. Further research on facilitating communication between host country and sponsor country ethics committees can maximize local research ethics expertise, and thus raise the standard of protecting human participants involved in international research. [source]


A Justification, after the Postmodern Turn, of Universal Ethical Principles and Educational Ideals1

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY, Issue 6 2005
Mark Mason
Abstract The implementation of education programmes in different cultures invites the question whether we are justified in doing so in cultures that may reject the programmes' underlying principles. Are there indeed ethical principles and educational ideals that can be justified as applicable to all cultures? After a consideration of Zygmunt Bauman's postmodern rejection of the possibility of universal ethics, , cite and extend Harvey Siegel's defence of multiculturalism as a transcultural ethical ideal. I conclude the paper with a justification of the transcultural normative reach of moral principles that I have elsewhere defended as the ethics of integrity. The paper's significance lies in its justification of educational interventions founded in these principles across different cultures. [source]


NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES' MACHIAVELLIAN PROPENSITIES

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2009
Pamela C. Smith
Nonprofit organizations are held to high ethical standards due to their charitable missions serving the common good. Incidents of fiscal mismanagement within the nonprofit sector make it relevant to assay the ethical principles of employees. This study examines the level of Machiavellian propensities of US nonprofit employees. Results indicate Machiavellian propensities do exist in certain nonprofit employees and these employees agree with questionable behavior. Policy makers and oversight agencies may find these results useful in developing corporate governance and accountability measures for nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, board of director members may use these results to monitor employee actions and address management training. [source]


Best Practice Guidelines on Publication Ethics: a Publisher's Perspective

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2007
Chris Graf
Summary These Best Practice Guidelines on Publication Ethics describe Blackwell Publishing's position on the major ethical principles of academic publishing and review factors that may foster ethical behavior or create problems. The aims are to encourage discussion, to initiate changes where they are needed, and to provide practical guidance, in the form of Best Practice statements, to inform these changes. Blackwell Publishing recommends that editors adapt and adopt the suggestions outlined to best fit the needs of their own particular publishing environment. [source]


Ethics of studies involving human volunteers.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007

The importance to the personal products industry of testing novel products in healthy human volunteers and the need to ensure the trials were both safe and ethical were addressed in part I. The historical development of ethical standards for human testing was also summarized. The present paper highlights the ethical principles to be considered when testing novel non-medicinal products on human volunteers, and it describes how they can be implemented in a pragmatic manner to avoid delay to the sponsor's research program. The structure and function of ethics committees is discussed. [source]


Operations research and ethics: development trends 1966,2009

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010
Fred Wenstøp
Abstract The paper tracks development trends in the literature on operations research (OR) and ethics from Kenneth Boulding's vision in 1966 of OR as a tool for benevolent decision making, and up to today's constructive papers in this special issue of ITOR. Although this review does not intend to give a complete picture of the relevant literature, two main themes stand out clearly: "Guidelines for the practice of OR" and "How can OR be applied for good purpose?" The first issue is about ethical principles and the second about ethical consequences. Although there is a continued interest in guidelines, few OR societies follow up with their own guidelines, and only a limited number of papers report on the ethicality of real OR applications in relation to guidelines. On the other hand, there is an increasing interest in OR as a tool for benevolent decision making, as we can witness in this special issue of ITOR. [source]


Ethics in operations research and sustainable development

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010
Jean-Pierre Brans
Abstract During the last 100 years, major social, economic, environmental and technical problems have arisen that today jeopardise mankind's very existence. The authors argue that operations research (OR) should be more strongly involved by developing models to face today's crucial challenges. OR should change drastically because it is traditionally involved mainly with optimisation problems, which are often counterproductive in the sense of ethical behaviour: new basic approaches are required. This paper provides some avenues on how to develop instruments for addressing mankind's sustainability problems, and for complying with ethical principles. It is proposed to have a mix of techniques, mainly: systems thinking, multi-criteria decision-making and dynamic control. A global framework, called ASMC (Adaptive, Systemic, Multi-criteria, Control procedure), is proposed for developing these ideas. Some sustainable development applications are presented. [source]


The nature of advocacy vs. paternalism in nursing: clarifying the ,thin line'

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 8 2009
Meg Zomorodi
Abstract Title.,The nature of advocacy vs. paternalism in nursing: clarifying the ,thin line'. Aim., This paper is an exploration of the concepts of advocacy and paternalism in nursing and discusses the thin line between the two. Background., Nurses are involved in care more than any other healthcare professionals and they play a central role in advocating for patients and families. It is difficult to obtain a clear definition of advocacy, yet the concepts of advocacy and paternalism must be compared, contrasted, and discussed extensively. In many situations, only a thin line distinguishes advocacy from paternalism. Data sources., A literature search was conducted using PubMed and CINAHL databases (2000,2008) as well as a library catalogue for texts. Discussion., Four case stories were described in order to discuss the ,thin line' between advocacy and paternalism and develop communication strategies to eliminate ambiguity. Weighing the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy helps to clarify advocacy and paternalism and provides an avenue for discussion among nurses practicing in a variety of settings. Implications for nursing., Advocacy and paternalism should be discussed at interdisciplinary rounds, and taken into consideration when making patient care decisions. It is difficult to clarify advocacy vs. paternalism, but strategies such as knowing the patient, clarifying information, and educating all involved are initial steps in distinguishing advocacy from paternalism. Conclusion., Truly ,knowing' patients, their life experiences, values, beliefs and wishes can help clarify the ,thin line' and gain a grasp of these difficult to distinguish theoretical concepts. [source]


The ethics of research using electronic mail discussion groups

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 5 2005
Debbie Kralik PhD RN
Aim., The aim of this paper is to identify and discuss the ethical considerations that have confronted and challenged the research team when researchers facilitate conversations using private electronic mail discussion lists. Background., The use of electronic mail group conversations, as a collaborative data generation method, remains underdeveloped in nursing. Ethical challenges associated with this approach to data generation have only begun to be considered. As receipt of ethics approval for a study titled; ,Describing transition with people who live with chronic illness' we have been challenged by many ethical dilemmas, hence we believe it is timely to share the issues that have confronted the research team. These discussions are essential so we can understand the possibilities for research interaction, communication, and collaboration made possible by advanced information technologies. Discussion., Our experiences in this study have increased our awareness for ongoing ethical discussions about privacy, confidentiality, consent, accountability and openness underpinning research with human participants when generating data using an electronic mail discussion group. We describe how we work at upholding these ethical principles focusing on informed consent, participant confidentiality and privacy, the participants as threats to themselves and one another, public,private confusion, employees with access, hackers and threats from the researchers. Conclusion., A variety of complex issues arise during cyberspace research that can make the application of traditional ethical standards troublesome. Communication in cyberspace alters the temporal, spatial and sensory components of human interaction, thereby challenging traditional ethical definitions and calling to question some basic assumptions about identity and ones right to keep aspects of it confidential. Nurse researchers are bound by human research ethics protocols; however, the nature of research by electronic mail generates moral issues as well as ethical concerns. Vigilance by researchers is required to ensure that data are viewed within the scope of the enabling ethics approval. [source]


The essentials of Advance Care Planning for end-of-life care for older people

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3-4 2010
Sarah Yeun-Sim Jeong
Aims and objectives., The aim of the study was to investigate the phenomenon of Advance Care Planning and the use of Advance Care Directives in residential aged care facilities in Australia. The objectives were to: ,,investigate the implementation process of Advance Care Planning and the use of Advance Care Directives; ,,investigate the outcomes of Advance Care Planning and experiences of people involved in Advance Care Planning and Advance Care Directives, including residents, families and nursing staff. Background., Benefits of Advance Care Planning for older residents are considerable given their degenerative health-breakdown and minimal chance of recovery. To date, the use of Advance Care Planning and Advance Care Directives is limited and models of service delivery and processes are needed to enhance best practice with Advance Care Planning and positive outcomes for older Australians. Design., Case study. Methods., The study conducted using multiple sources of evidence to enrich understanding of the phenomenon of Advance Care Planning. The researcher engaged in data collection over six months involving participant observation, field notes, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The findings contribute to the limited knowledge of options currently available to older adults and their families in their decision-making about end-of-life care options. Permission to conduct the study., Prior to commencement of the data collection, ethics clearances from the University of Newcastle and the regional Area Health Service were achieved. Permission to access the residential aged care facilities to undertake the study was obtained from the relevant residential aged care facility ethics committees or designated authorities. The researcher undertook several strategies to ensure all the ethical principles were considered and adhered to while conducting the project. Results., The research identified the components and factors involved in the Advance Care Planning process and in attaining desired outcomes. The conceptual framework developed elaborates how Advance Care Planning should be implemented and what may constitute successful implementation of Advance Care Planning in residential aged care facilities. The four main elements (input, throughput, output, feedback), and 20 sub-elements were requisites for nurses to initiate and implement the Advance Care Planning. Conclusion., The essential components for end-of-life care are identified in the implementation processes of Advance Care Planning in residential aged care facilities. The study contributes to greater awareness of the processes needed for ,dying well' and highlights the need to explore experiences of ,successful dying' and the way nurses contribute to these events. Relevance to clinical practice., The case study identified four determinative requisites for successful implementation of Advance Care Planning in aged care facilities: the expert nurse, discussion, education and involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Nurses should take these factors into account and use person-centred approach in formalised processes to encourage participation in plans for end-of-life care. [source]


Literature review: decision-making regarding slow resuscitation

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 11 2007
H Dip, Jacinta Kelly MSc
Aims and objectives., Applying ethical principles as a framework, a review of the literature will be presented regarding the decision-making process of slow codes. Background., Slow codes are cardiopulmonary resuscitative efforts intentionally conducted too slowly for resuscitation to occur. While some authors argue that a slow code is a non-maleficent and beneficent act towards the hopelessly ill patient, others believe that this practice is harmful and deceptive, that it disregards patient and surrogate autonomy and deprives the patient of a peaceful death. Method., Literature review. Results., Decision-making surrounding cardiopulmonary resuscitation receives considerable attention in the literature. However, data relating to the decision-making process in slow codes is sparse. One ethnographic study described the practice of slow codes as doing good and preventing harm to the patient. Conclusions., It was evident from the literature review that slow codes, even in the most limited form, are invasive and undignified and that they prolong death and suffering. Further research is needed to examine why slow codes happen despite the availability of a do-not-resuscitate order. Relevance to clinical practice., Decision-making regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation is increasingly problematic in Ireland. The literature review suggests that clinical guidelines regarding decision-making and cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be introduced to reduce the likelihood of slow codes occurring, but also that nurses and doctors endeavour to communicate more effectively with patients and family. [source]


Artificial hydration and nutrition in advanced Alzheimer's disease: facilitating family decision-making

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 6 2004
Sandra K Eggenberger PhD
Background., As Alzheimer's disease progresses to its final stages of dementia and dysphagia, whereby patients can no longer swallow food and fluids, families suffer with difficult decisions regarding initiation of artificial hydration and nutrition. Aims and objectives., Through the use of a hypothetical family scenario, this theoretical article presents the ethical principals of beneficence and autonomy as a framework for use by nurses to hear and inform family decision-makers of the physiology of death in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's and examines the current literature related to benefits and burdens of artificial hydration and nutrition. Conclusions., While a beneficial consideration, ethical principles are critiqued for their inability to provide an absolute answer and relieve family suffering in this clinical situation. Relevance to clinical practice., A nurse-lead consensus building process is proposed to guide family decision-making regarding artificial hydration and nutrition with advanced Alzheimer's disease. [source]


Ethical Issues in HIV Research in Poor Countries

JOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 2 2001
Gladys Mabunda
Purpose: To increase awareness of the potential for conducting unethical research in poor nations in the name of scientific inquiry, and to enumerate ethical questions in HIV/AIDS research. Organizing construct: Principles of ethics and ethical analysis in clinical research. Sources and methods: Review of literature on ethical principles of research in developing nations. Findings: People who participate in clinical trials in poor countries often do so because that may be the only way to gain access to health care. However, access to tested drugs beyond clinical trials is not guaranteed. Participants often do not understand the consequences of being research subjects. Conclusions: Conducting research in poor nations requires recognition of ethical issues and maintenance of ethical standards, regardless of material wealth of the countries. Ethical standards also indicate including people from the target population in decisions relating to designing and conducting clinical trials. [source]


An ethical judgment framework for corporate political actions

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 3 2008
Yongqiang Gao
Despite the popularity of businesses' involvement in politics, little discussion has been conducted on the ethics of corporate political actions (CPAs) in the business, corporate social responsibility, business ethics and ,business and society' literatures. The sporadic studies on ethics of CPA mainly focus on one or two aspects of the CPA in judging its ethics, such as its goal or means or consequences, very little has been done in a systematic way to analyse and articulate ethical standards for those corporations and industries who proactively seek to influence government officials. This study attempts to make up this gap. By applying three basic ethical principles including Utilitarian theory, theory of rights and theory of justice into the CPAs, I propose an ethical judgment framework for CPAs. The ethical judgment framework focuses on and judged by four issues/attributes of a CPA, including the goals/purposes of the CPA, the means taken to achieve the goals, the consequences resulted from the CPA, and the process of the CPA. The ,means' and ,consequences' are the core criteria in the framework, but ,goals' and ,process' also contribute to the ethical judgment of a CPA. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Health, Wealth, and Fairness

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMIC THEORY, Issue 2 2005
MARC FLEURBAEY
How much health should we have and how should it be distributed? This paper studies how to define social objectives for the allocation of health and income in a setting where individuals may differ in their preferences about health and consumption, earning ability, and health disposition. It is shown, on the basis of three simple ethical principles, that a reasonable social objective is to apply the maximin criterion to "full-health equivalent" incomes. An application to the choice of the optimal health policy illustrates how this social objective may be used. [source]


Retained organs: ethics and humanity

LEGAL STUDIES, Issue 4 2002
Margaret Brazier
This paper responds to John Harris's vigorous analysis of the ethical principles involved in organ retention. The author contends that Harris overlooks the context in which revelations about organ retention came about in the UK. He pays insufficient regard to deeply held cultural and religious beliefs, and does not fully address the claims of the living to determine the fate of their body after death, or the interests of bereaved families in laying a beloved relative to rest. The paper argues that the fundamental principle governing removal and retention of body parts after death must rest on a strong presumption that such body parts should be removed only with the suficient consent of the deceased or his family. [source]


The ethics of reusing archived tissue for research

NEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2000
R. Ashcroft
Pathologists have been establishing archives of human organs and tissue for research use for many years now. Controversy has arisen recently over these collections, particularly with regard to the right of patients or relatives to consent to removal and retention of tissue, genetic research using stored tissue samples, and commercial exploitation of tissue collections and genetic material. This paper discusses the ethics of reusing existing archives of tissue. New archives are established under much more stringent conditions than in the past. What rules should apply to existing archives? Guidelines to regulate such use are useful, but face serious difficulties in balancing the variety of public and private interests relating to tissue banking. Consent cannot be obtained retrospectively, but public trust can be established by open acknowledgement of the evolution of ethical standards and strict adherence to current best practice. Guidelines and standards vary from country to country, but ethical principles should not. The implications of this view for pathologists worldwide are discussed. [source]


Private Property and the Law of Nature in Locke's Two Treatises: The Best Advantage of Life and Convenience

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
B. Jeffrey Reno
The study of policy lies at the intersection of economics and ethics, dealing, to a great extent, with private property. Policy design therefore assumes an understanding of the relationship between property and human nature, a matter of great interest to John Locke. Locke's teaching, however, is far from clear, often composed of a set of dual arguments. Yet close attention to the dualistic arguments is revealing: the two objects Locke associates with property,life and convenience,correspond to the two bases upon which he grounds the right to property: labor and consent. His argument reflects the changing economic nature of property, and also provides insight into the poles within which people behave according to the Law of Nature. Thus, a full explication of the relationship between Locke's Law of Nature and doctrine of property illuminates the economic and ethical principles that ought to inform policymakers and analysts. [source]


Ethical Issues for Psychologists in Pain Management

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2001
Mary Lou Taylor PhD
Pain management is relatively young as a specialty. Although increasing attention is being paid to issues such as pain at the end of life and pain in underserved populations, only recently has an open discussion of ethical issues in chronic pain treatment come to the fore. Psychologists specializing in pain management are faced with a myriad of ethical issues. Although many of these problems are similar to those faced by general clinical psychologists or other health psychologists, they are often made more complex by the multidisciplinary nature of pain management and by the psychologists' relationships to third-party payers (health maintenance organizations, workers' compensation), attorneys, or other agencies. An open forum exploring ethical issues is needed. This article outlines major ethical considerations faced by pain management psychologists, including patient autonomy and informed consent, confidentiality, reimbursement and dual relationships, patient abandonment, assessment for medical procedures, clinical research, and the interface of psychology and medicine. American Psychological Association ethical principles and principles of biomedical ethics need to be considered in ethical decision making. Further exploration and discussion of ethics for pain management psychologists are recommended. [source]


What can pest management learn from laboratory animal ethics?

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 3 2010
James Yeates
Abstract There remains a lack of a clear overarching policy framework for decision-making in pest control programmes. In comparison, ethical principles have been extensively developed for scientific procedures, such as those underlying the UK's Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This paper assesses the extent to which the principles and methodology underlying the act and secondary guidance could be used to provide principles of rodent management. Useful principles include that any programme has a legitimate purpose; that methods are used only if the harms are outweighed by the benefits; that harms are minimised by refinement, replacement and reduction and that there is personal responsibility. The usefulness and implications for pest control of each principle and the overall approach are discussed. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Ethical issues in the management of sickle cell pain

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Samir K. Ballas
Abstract Care providers who manage patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) often face several questions. Most prominent among these pertain to the importance of pain and its treatment. The duties of the health care providers concerning pain management are often not well defined and vary considerably among providers and institutions. Despite the availability of national guidelines that address the ethical issues of pain management, patients with SCD often receive suboptimal pain control, especially during acute painful episodes. Although there are many reasons for this situation, an important aspect of the problem pertains to the complexity of applying ethical standards to specific patients with sickle cell pain. Decisions are frequently made according to perceptions and circumstances without taking ethical principles into consideration. The purpose of this paper is to present the range of ethical principles pertinent to sickle pain management and discuss specific examples of physician-patient interactions where ethical dilemmas occur. Am. J. Hematol. 68:127,132, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Psychologists and the Use of Torture in Interrogations

ANALYSES OF SOCIAL ISSUES & PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 1 2007
Mark Costanzo
This article argues that psychologists should not be involved in interrogations that make use of torture or other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment. The use of torture is first evaluated in light of professional ethics codes and international law. Next, research on interrogations and false confessions is reviewed and its relevance for torture-based interrogations is explored. Finally, research on the negative mental health consequences of torture for survivors and perpetrators is summarized. Based on our review, we conclude that psychologists' involvement in designing, assisting with, or participating in interrogations that make use of torture or other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment is a violation of fundamental ethical principles, a violation of international and domestic law, and an ineffective means of extracting reliable information. Torture produces severe and lasting trauma as well as other negative consequences for individuals and for the societies that support it. The article concludes with several recommendations about how APA and other professional organizations should respond to the involvement of psychologists in interrogations that make use of torture or other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment. [source]


Researching nursing practice: does person-centredness matter?,

NURSING PHILOSOPHY, Issue 3 2003
Brendan McCormack DPhil (Oxon ) BSc (Hons) Nursing PGCEA RGN RMN
Abstract Person-centredness is common speak in nursing and health care literature. Increasingly there is an expectation that practitioners adopt person-centred principles in their practice and organizations are expected to respect the values of the service user. However, in the research methodology literature, there is little explicit attention paid to the concept of person-centredness in research practice. Instead, there continues to be a reliance on traditional ,ethical principles' to guide effectiveness in research work. This paper argues that the principles of person-centredness that are espoused in nursing practice should also underpin nursing and health care research. A framework for person-centred research is proposed and issues concerning its implementation in practice are discussed. [source]