ETHICS

Question 1

Beneficence

Answer 1

Commitment to maximising benefits and minimising risks or harm

Violated when researchers are not acting with good intentions

Question 2

Non-maleficence

Answer 2

Avoiding causing harm, or harm is disproportionate to benefits

Violated when harm is intentionally done

Question 3

Justice

Answer 3

Moral obligation to ensure there is no unfair burden on a particular group and that there is fair distribution and access to benefits of an action

Violated when there is unfair treatment

Question 4

Respect

Answer 4

Considering the welfare, beliefs, culture of individuals, and ensuring that living things that don’t have the capacity to make their own decisions are protected as much as possible

Violated when welfare is not looked after

Question 5

Professional Integrity

Answer 5

Honest reporting of information, whether favourable or not

Violated when guidelines are not followed or info is concealed

Question 6

Consequences based

Answer 6

Central importance placed on the consequences of an action, aiming to maximise positive outcomes and minimise negative outcomes

Example: Is animal testing worth the information gained?

Question 7

Virtues based

Answer 7

Central importance placed on the moral character of the person carrying out the action and provides guidance about how a ‘good person’ would act

Example: Are researchers acting with good intentions?

Question 8

Duty/rule based

Answer 8

Central importance is placed on the idea that people have a duty to act in a particular way and follow ethical rules and guidelines regardless of the consequences

Example: Are researchers following the guidelines for welfare of participants?

Question 9

Beneficence

Answer 9

Commitment to maximising benefits and minimising risks or harm

Violated when researchers are not acting with good intentions

Question 10

Non-maleficence

Answer 10

Avoiding causing harm, or harm is disproportionate to benefits

Violated when harm is intentionally done

Question 11

Justice

Answer 11

Moral obligation to ensure there is no unfair burden on a particular group and that there is fair distribution and access to benefits of an action

Violated when there is unfair treatment

Question 12

Respect

Answer 12

Considering the welfare, beliefs, culture of individuals, and ensuring that living things that don’t have the capacity to make their own decisions are protected as much as possible

Violated when welfare is not looked after

Question 13

Professional Integrity

Answer 13

Honest reporting of information, whether favourable or not

Violated when guidelines are not followed or info is concealed

Question 14

Consequences based

Answer 14

Central importance placed on the consequences of an action, aiming to maximise positive outcomes and minimise negative outcomes

Example: Is animal testing worth the information gained?

Question 15

Virtues based

Answer 15

Central importance placed on the moral character of the person carrying out the action and provides guidance about how a ‘good person’ would act

Example: Are researchers acting with good intentions?

Question 16

Duty/rule based

Answer 16

Central importance is placed on the idea that people have a duty to act in a particular way and follow ethical rules and guidelines regardless of the consequences

Example: Are researchers following the guidelines for welfare of participants?

Question 17

What are some bioethical implications of CRISPR?

Answer 17

Changes the course of natural selection.

Virtues-based, non-maleficence.

Question 18

What is a challenge associated with CRISPR gene editing?

Answer 18

Difficult to control intended edits of genes.

Could lead to unknown mutations and negative consequences (consequences-based approach, integrity beneficence, non-maleficence).

Question 19

What is a potential benefit of using CRISPR in agriculture?

Answer 19

Increasing crop yield to provide more food.

Beneficence, virtues-based.

Question 20

What are the bioethical implications of biofuels?

Answer 20

The bioethical implications include the Food vs Fuel debate, which considers virtues-based, consequences-based, justice, and integrity perspectives.

Question 21

What is the Food vs Fuel debate?

Answer 21

The Food vs Fuel debate addresses the ethical considerations of using crops for biofuels instead of food production.

Question 22

What are the cost considerations of biofuels?

Answer 22

Biofuels can be cheap once up and running, but they are costly to set up, and the storage and transport of ethanol is also expensive.

Question 23

What is a consequence-based approach to the use of a vaccine?

Answer 23

It emphasizes that the benefits to the wider community, such as achieving herd immunity, outweigh the negatives of a singular person’s allergic reactions.

Question 24

What is herd immunity?

Answer 24

Herd immunity is the protection of a community from a disease through widespread vaccination, reducing the likelihood of disease spread.