LECTURE 7 Flashcards
What is the origin of the word “ethics”?
The Greek word ethos, meaning custom, habit, character, or dispositions.`
What does ethics investigate?
Normative questions about what people ought to do, focusing on moral decisions, rights, and responsibilities.
What are the two main paradigms in ethics?
Consequentialism and Deontology.
What is Heinz’s dilemma?
A thought experiment where Heinz considers stealing an expensive drug to save his dying wife.
What does selecting “Yes” in Heinz’s dilemma indicate about ethical stance?
Likely to be more consequentialist.
What does selecting “No” in Heinz’s dilemma indicate about ethical stance?
Likely to be more deontologist.
How do consequentialists judge actions?
Based on their consequences, considering the action with the best overall outcomes as morally right.
What is Kant’s test for morally permissible actions?
A maxim is permissible only if it could be willed as a universal law.
How would deontologists view stealing in Heinz’s dilemma?
Morally wrong, as stealing cannot be justified as a universal law.
What are the strengths of consequentialism?
Practical, flexible, and clear by focusing on consequences.
What are the weaknesses of consequentialism?
Consequences are often unpredictable, no act is inherently wrong, and intentions are not judged.
What are the strengths of deontology?
Provides clarity through rules, and good intentions are considered important.
What are the weaknesses of deontology?
Lack of flexibility, no definitive list of good/bad acts, and unclear justification for moral rules.
What are the main ethical guidelines for research?
Nuremberg Code (1947), Declaration of Helsinki (1964), BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct (2021), and Data Protection Act 2018 (UK GDPR implementation).
What principles were included in the Nuremberg Code?
Informed consent, voluntary participation, beneficence, non-maleficence, and the right to withdraw.
What is informed consent in research?
Participants must be informed about the purpose, duration, procedures, risks, discomforts, and benefits to make an informed decision.
What are exceptions to informed consent?
Observational studies in public places and use of publicly available information.
What is voluntary participation?
Prospective participants must decide freely to participate without pressure or coercion.
What is the right to withdraw?
Participants can leave the study and withdraw their data at any time without negative consequences.
What is beneficence and non-maleficence?
Researchers must maximize potential benefits, minimize risks, and protect participants from harm.
What is deception in research?
Intentionally misleading participants about key aspects of the study, which is allowed only if justified, harmless, and disclosed as early as possible.
What is confidentiality in research?
Participants’ data must be treated as confidential, and anonymity must be maintained unless explicitly informed otherwise.
What is pseudonymous data?
Data that does not contain direct identifiers (e.g., name) but may still allow identification.
What was the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?
A study (1932-1972) where treatment was withheld from African American men with syphilis despite penicillin being available, resulting in harm to participants and their families.
