ethics

Question 1

Consequentialist ethics

Answer 1

‘outcome-based’ ethics. Actions are considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ following the ‘weighing’ of their positive and negative outcomes. Example: utilitarianism, aiming to achieve maximal happiness for the greatest number

Question 1

Deontological ethics

Answer 1

duty-’ or ‘rights-based’ ethics. Actions are considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ depending on whether they are consistent with the ‘duties’ of the agent and the ‘rights’ of those affected by the actions.
* Immanuel Kant 1724-1804

Question 2

Guiding principles

Answer 2

• Autonomy and protection of the human participant
  
  • Safety, rights, dignity of ppts need to be protected
  • Need to follow BPS conduct of Human research ethics

Question 3

Historical milestones:

Answer 3

• Nuremberg Code, Nuremberg military tribunal 1947 – special emphasis on informed consent, absence of coercion
• Declaration of Helsinki, World Medical Association 1963 (last revision 2013) - human dignity, care for the welfare of ppts, consideration of risks, informed consent

Question 4

BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct- Four primary ethical principles:

Answer 4

Respect - for dignity of ppts, privacy, confidentiality

Competence - ability to provide services to a professional standard, acknowledge we need to refer things to other professionals. Do what is within our competence

Responsibility - avoidance of harm

Integrity - honest, accurate

Question 5

BPS ethical principles for research with human participants

Answer 5

• Respect for autonomy, privacy and dignity of participants
  
  • Harm to participants must be avoided and all risks carefully assessed
    ○ Research ethics committee for approval
    ○ Privacy for ppts
    ○ Ppts need to be able to feel freely able to withdraw
  • Informed consent
    ○ Researcher needs to be clear about aims of study
    ○ Implications of withholding information
  • Debriefing

Question 6

What do you think is the current situation concerning animal research in UK

Answer 6

a. Whenever possible, animals should replace human participants in research.

b. There are strict legal regulations concerning research on animals.

c. There are no legal regulations of research on animals, even though researchers adhere to ethical codes of professional societies.

d. There are neither legal regulations nor commonly accepted ethical standards.

Question 7

Guiding principles (animals)

Answer 7

• Principles of humane experimentation, The Three Rs (Russel & Burch, 1956‘)
  
  • Refinement’, i.e. reduction in severity of inhumane procedures
  • ‘Reduction’ in the number of animals used - use smallest number of animals
  • ‘Replacement’ of highly sentient animals whenever possible
• Animal welfare: husbandry must meet animals’ needs!

Question 8

Strict legal regulation (animals)

Answer 8

• In the UK, all animal experiments involving vertebrates and the octopus are regulated by the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Primates, cats, dogs and horses have extra protection as compared to other vertebrates.

Question 9

Data collection, data handling, publication: some guidelines

Answer 9

• Be transparent
• All steps of data collection and treatment must be carefully documented (including problems, e.g. lost data).
• Data must be stored in such a way that they can be retrieved for later verification.

Question 10

Conflict of interest

Answer 10

• Any situation in which financial or personal considerations have potential to compromise scientific or professional conduct.

Question 11

what are deontological ethics?

Answer 11

duty-‘ or ‘rights-based’ ethics

Question 12

what are consequentialist ethics?

Answer 12

outcome based ethics