ethics

Question 1

Genetically modifying babies to make them immune to HIV/Aids

Answer 1

November 2018: The age of genetically modified humans has begun.
Dr He Jiankui from the Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzen claims to have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to disable the gene called CCR5, which is the vehicle via which HIV can enter a cell.
In doing so he claims to have made the babies immune to HIV, thus avoiding the fate of their fathers.
The babies are healthy and at home with their parents.

Question 2

The four BPS (2018) Ethical Principles

Answer 2

• Respect
• Competence
• Responsibility
• Integrity

Question 3

Scientific Reporting

Answer 3

• Arguably a more poorly regulated aspect of science is reporting
• Some would argue this has contributed to the ‘replication crisis’ (Duncan is giving a lecture closely related to this)

Question 4

plagiarism

Answer 4

copying someone else’s data or words, or using them with out permission.

Question 5

misrepresenting data

Answer 5

reporting the real results, but in such a way as to make them look better than they are.

Question 6

fabricating data

Answer 6

fabricating data, such as adding, altering or removing data points.

Question 7

Prof. Mark Hauser – A case of data fabrication?

Answer 7

In 2010, Havard Professor of Psychology (language and cognition in humans and monkeys), Marc Hauser, was accused, and ultimately found guilty of scientific fraud.
(See article linked below)

 He was fabricating data to support hypotheses
 Figures in several papers showed made up data
 He resigned, but is still somewhat active in research

Question 8

There are numerous ethical challenges when working with patients.

Answer 8

• Risks to individuals with experimental treatments
o Unknown harm or benefits
• Robust experimental design vs. giving patients the best care
• Interests of the researchers vs. patient

• Ethics for experiments with patients must be done through the NHS
• NHS ethics is much more complex than University procedures
• Multiple national bodies related to the NHS oversee ethics approval:

Question 9

Health Research Authority (HRA):

Answer 9

Unifies ethical approval process in UK

Question 10

National Research Ethics Service (NRES):

Answer 10

national management of ethics committees

Question 11

Integrated Research Ethics System (IRES):

Answer 11

on-line system for managing ethical approval

Question 12

healthcare economics

Answer 12

Putting a value on healing the sick
• One of the greatest ethical challenges which faces a healthcare system, is how to spend its limited resources on treating people
• The process of valuing treatments is called “health economics”

Putting a value on healing the sick
How do we value the ‘value’ of a treatment?
Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY)

Question 13

The principles (the 3Rs) of animal research ethics
The principles of animal ethics (Russell and Burch 1959):

Answer 13

Replacement:
Use methods which avoid or replace the use of animals whenever possible.

Reduction:
Use the best experimental methods to obtain the information required from the smallest possible number of animals.

Refinement:
Use the methods which avoid, minimize or alleviate pain, suffering or distress, and enhance the welfare of the animals.
In the UK, animal research is tightly regulated, and overseen the Home Office.