Ethical Responsibilities Flashcards
What are ethics?
codes of conduct/guidelines for proper behavior within a discipline or profession
What are morales?
your personal sense of right and wrong
What are the three ethical principles that guide forensic anthropologists?
Respect, Confidentiality, Honesty
Respect
respect for the descendent, respect for loved ones and family
Confidentiality
not talking about case details without permission from law enforcement
Honesty
be aware of what analysis can and cannot do; don’t be more certain of something than the science can support
What are the two components of honesty?
- recognizing the difference between evidence and opinion
- accurate assessment of levels of certainty
Evidence
the actual bones
Opinion
assessment and analysis of bone
Are forensic anthropologist allowed to give their opinion in court?
Yes, they are expert witnesses
What are the three types of opinions?
speculation, possible, probably
Speculation
based on no data or very little data
Possible
a little more backing but not likely; no specific support
Probably
well supported (generally and in application)
When giving opinions DONT,
attach levels of probability to opinions or use statistics when describing numeric characteristics
when giving opinions DO,
use word qualifiers instead of probability levels and talk in terms of consistency and inconsistency
Why are personal ethics important?
have to decide, based on your morales, if you can work ethically given circumstances
What external considerations may imapact person ethics?
political and social aspects in foreign countries,
working in conditions that may affect quality of work,
cases that may result in the death penalty,
danger to the investigators by persons opposed to the uncovering of the crime
What emotional considerations may impact personal ethics?
the rights of the victim’s families (accurate answers, customs),
justice from an investigation may be distressing to innocent people (be aware in how and when you speak about cases)
What is the final report?
a written document that states the results of the skeletal analysis
Who is the final report provided to?
medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement officials, and other legal authorities
What is important to keep in mind when writing the final report?
the audience (may be unfamiliar with technical wording)
What are the 2 parts of the final report?
summary and methods & results
What is the methods & results section comprised of?
- background info
- general condition of remains
- inventory
- biological profile
- pathology, trauma, and skeletal anomalies
- recommendations for further testing
- references
- appendixes (chain of custody, intake, xray, FORDISC, photos, etc)
What three things are included in the biological profile?
- estimate
- methods and results
- citations
True or False: Every court case has to go to trial.
False (dismissed, cold case, no ID, deals, etc)
What are the steps to giving an expert testimony?
pretrial meetings,
establishing qualifications,
direct examination,
cross-examination,
(possible redirect examination)
Why do forensic anthropologist have to establish their qualifications in court?
Why should they deserve this privilege?
What should be reviewed when establishing qualifications?
education, background, publications, certifications, and experience
Direct examination
by the prosecuting attorney; forensic anthropologists presents evidence and opinions
Cross examination
by the opposing attorney, attempts to find inconsistencies with the testimony given in direct examination (goal is to introduce doubt)
