Lesson 5 - Ethical Issues in Neuroscience

Question 1

What are all animal research regulated by and what are the 3 principles?

Answer 1

Replace, refine, reduce
Regulated by the Home Office

Question 2

All researchers performing animal research need a what?

Answer 2

Home office personal license
Last 5 years and have to justify the use of using animals for research
Work under a project license can only be performed with an establishment license in place

Question 3

What does home secretary ensure?

Answer 3

compliance with uk and eu law on animal research.

Question 4

what is the Animals (scientific procedures) Act 1986 ASPA ?

Answer 4

The use of animals in experiments and testing is regulated under the animals (scientific procedures) act 1986 ASPA. ASPA has been revised to change the European Disruptive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The revised legislation came into force on January first 2013.

ASPA is implemented by the Home Office.

Question 5

What is CRISPR-CAS9 Technology?

Answer 5

Allows selective alternations of specific parts of DNA in the genome - faster and more accurate than previous methods.

This technology could revolutionise the treatment of genetic diseases.

Potential concerns about “unintended consequences”

2015 - major conference Scientists self-imposed a ban on germline (sperm and egg) research. Just performing research on somatic cells.
This technology can help to understand brain function and also treat both focal cortical epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease.

This is a problem though as it generally uses viruses, such as Adenoviruses.

Question 6

Who has the responsibility to ensure ethics are adhered to?

Answer 6

International: European Union (at the moment).

National: Government, UK Research and Innovation.

Specific Body: Medical research council

Leading universities: The Russel Group

Institution : University of Sheffield
Individual : Principal Investigator
Research Scientist : Research Assistant, Post Doc
Student – Undergraduate, Postgraduate

All have important roles in ensuring high ethical standards are maintained.

Question 7

The British government’s chief scientific advisor has set out a universal ethical code for scientists.
What is that?

Answer 7

Act withskill and care, keep skills up to date

–Prevent corrupt practiceand declare conflicts of interest

–Respect andacknowledge the work of otherscientists

–Ensure that research isjustified and lawful

–Minimise impactson people, animals and the environment

–Discuss issuesscience raises for society

–Do not mislead; present evidence honestly

Question 8

Where a conflict of interest is involved….

Answer 8

Particular vigilance is required

Question 9

Flavours of scientific malpractice? FFP

Answer 9

Fabrication
Falsification
Plagiarism

Question 10

What are the pressures to be good?

Answer 10

ntrinsic vs extrinsic motivation

Intrinsically motivated scientists: finding out about how the world works is the end - happier.

Extrinsically motivated scientists: finding out about how the world works is the means - career advancement is the end - less happy.

Question 11

What are instrinsically motivated scienctists?

Answer 11

finding out about how the world works is the end - happier.

Question 12

Extrinsically motivated scientists

Answer 12

finding out about how the world works is the means - career advancement is the end - less happy.

Question 13

What is Whistleblowing?

Answer 13

speaking up when there’s flouting of institutional and governmental regulations (including bio safety/animal care regulations) and policies is detected

The detection of fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism on the part of colleagues/supervisors.

Question 14

What are some research ethics in clinical psych?

Answer 14

Ethics is a methodological issue

procedural decisions have ethical implications

poorly designed studies can be considered unethical

Ethical problems arise from viewing participants as objects (or as “subjects”)

Ethical considerations require methodological trade-offs

(Bersoff & Bersoff, 1999)

Question 15

What is direct harm?

Answer 15

Clinical research may ask participants about difficult past experiences or remembering traumatic events

This could cause:

1. Distress by remembering a difficult life event
2. Embarrassment eg as about drugs or alcohol use
3. New problems eg asking people about marital interaction could highlight conflicts or tensions

Question 16

What could direct harm require?

Answer 16

May require suspension or termination of data collection

Clinical skills are useful here

Research should involve sufficient debriefing

Asking about distress/ concerns about the study

Provide space to discuss this and onward referral to relevant services.

Question 17

What does indirect harm involve?

Answer 17

Indirect harm - clinical trials

Withholding of benefit is a concern in Randomised Controlled trials - RCTs

RCTs involve the random assignment of p to treatment conditions

As people are presenting with a health complaint there can be a conflict between clinical (benefit of patient) versus scientist (benefit to science) perspectives

A clinical trial is possible when there is equipoise (perceived equivalence between treatments being compared; when its unclear whether treatment is effective at all)

Entails a specified treatment rather than a clinical judgement

Narrow inclusion criteria may exclude patients after assessment leaving them feeling invalidated and helpless