Lecture 6: ETHICS IN RESEARCH (PART 2 OF 2) Flashcards
What are the three broad obligations concerning research misconduct?
- Peers – honor the trust our colleagues place in us
• Science is a cumulative enterprise
• Inaccurate results and irresponsible acts impede progress - Self – personal integrity in research realized
through goals
• Goals such as degree, tenure, recognition - Public – directly affect health & policy; tax payer funding (for research and university/job)
What is research misconduct?
Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
What are the possible ways of doing a research misconduct?
(a) Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
• (b) Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
• (c) Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
• (d) Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
TRUE/FALSE
Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
TRUE
Reasons for Misconduct?
- Career ambitions (dissertation, tenure, fame)
- Ulterior motives (COI)
- Financial benefits
- Lack of training (this course, and others to openly discuss)
- Poorly managed research groups (minimal contact with PI and manager, large groups)
- Just a “bad seed”
What are the McGill policies on research integrity?
- is informed by the principles of honesty, integrity, trust, accountability and collegiality;
- meets high scientific and ethical standards;
- is conducted with honest and thoughtful inquiry, rigorous analysis, and accountability for the use of professional standards; and
- seeks to increase knowledge in ways that do not harm but which benefit society.”
What is an intellectual property?
a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.
What is conflict of interest (COI)?
- Person or group has multiple interests (i.e., commitments, goals, values), and one can possibly adversely affect motivation
- Not necessarily bad… must be disclosed
- Trust is at the heart of the scientific process, but COIs compromise trust relationships (ie., compromise independence, objectivity, ethical duties)
What is the AAMC, 1990 definition of COI?
Conflicts of interest are “situations in which financial or other personal considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, an investigator’s judgement in conducting or reporting research.”
What is the NAS, Integrity in Scientific Research definition of COI?
“A conflict of interest in research exists when the individual has interests in the outcome of the research that may lead to a personal advantage and that might therefore, in actuality or appearance compromise the integrity of the research.”
What are the safety rules of research at McGill?
- Appropriate clothing and equipment (PPE)
- Safe handling of materials in labs
- Safe operation of equipment
- Safe disposal of materials (hazardous; infectious)
- Safety management and accountability
- Emergency responses (spills, fires, etc.)
- First aid measures
- Safety education of all personnel before lab work
- Applicable government regulations
- Right to know… do you know what happens down the hall
What are the Purposes of Animal use in research?
- Fundamental Research (to broaden knowledge of essential physiological structures and functions and animal behaviors)
- Medical or Clinical Studies (for medical purposes that relate to human or animal diseases and disorders)
- Development of Products or Devices (investigate therapies for humans and animals)
- Regulatory Testing (animal-based testing required by governments to ensure safety)
- Educational Purposes (teach and train to communicate scientific concepts, and develop practical skills)
What is Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)? What do they do?
• Founded in 1968 by the National Research
Council, and now funded by CIHR and NSERC
• “setting and maintaining standards for the care and use of animals in science”
• Autonomous and independent body
• Guideline documents and policy statements
• Accountable to general public
• Responsible to disseminate information
• Compiles statistics on animal use
What are the animal use in research policies at McGill?
Everyone listed in an Animal Use Protocol form, is required to successfully pass the test for this THEORY course. The participant will need to know the material covered in this Web site and successfully pass a multiple choice test. If training was obtained from another institution, successfully passing the test is sufficient.
If handling live animals, the person also needs to successfully pass the PRACTICAL course (workshop) specific to the species he/she intends to work with. The participant will be asked to perform the procedures covered in the workshop and to pass a 10 multiple choice test at the end of that workshop.
What are The “three Rs” principles in animal use in research?
- Replacement
- Reduction
- Refinement
