Ethical Considerations-research methodology
ETHICS is “social norms for conduct that distinguishes between acceptable and unacceptable behavior”. Research ethics provides guidelines for the responsible conduct of research. In addition, it educates and monitors scientists conducting research to ensure a high ethical standard (Shah, 2011).
The core of ethical principles are having the best practice without harm when we dealing with individuals with justice (Flite & Harman, 2013).
The Nuremberg Code is the most important document in the history of the ethics of medical research. The Code was formulated 50 years ago, in August 1947, in Nuremberg, Germany, by American judges sitting in judgment of Nazi doctors accused of conducting murderous and torturous human experiments in the concentration camps (the so-called Doctors’ Trial). It served as a blueprint for today’s principles that ensure the rights of subjects in medical research (Shuster, 1997).
According to David & Resnik (2011), a summary of some ethical principles:
- Honesty: Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, and publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.
- Objectivity: Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research.
- Integrity: Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.
- Carefulness: Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of your peers. Keep good records of research activities.
- Openness: Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
- Respect for Intellectual Property: Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use unpublished data, methods, or results without permission. Give credit where credit is due. Never plagiarize.
- Confidentiality: Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel records, trade or military secrets, and patient records.
- Responsible Publication: Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career. Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication.
- Responsible Mentoring: Help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make their own decisions.
- Respect for Colleagues: Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.
- Social Responsibility: Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public education, and advocacy.
- Non-Discrimination: Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other factors that are not related to their scientific competence and integrity.
- Competence: Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a whole.
- Legality: Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.
- Animal Care: Show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly designed animal experiments.
- Human Subjects Protection: When conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and risks, and maximize benefits, respect human dignity, privacy, and autonomy.
How could this situation be remedied to ensure researchers respect their obligations to participants in future research?
The dilemmas faced today require interdisciplinary ethical collaboration with clinicians, administrators, ethicists, lawyers, policymakers, accreditation agencies, patients, and patients’ advocates. There is no linear path that can predict the requirements of each new Code of ethics. It is important for professionals who work on each Code of ethics to be aware of the changes in the political, social, and healthcare environment that may need to be addressed in the principles and guidelines for action ( Flite & Harman, 2013).
