Ethics in Science

Main thing

Ethics in science refers to the moral principles and values that guide scientific research and practice. It involves conducting research with integrity, honesty, objectivity, and responsibility, while minimizing harm and respecting the rights of research subjects and society as a whole. Ethical principles in science include ensuring the accuracy and reliability of research findings, protecting the confidentiality and privacy of research participants, disclosing conflicts of interest, and considering the broader societal implications of research. Adhering to these principles is essential for maintaining public trust in science and ensuring that scientific knowledge is used for the benefit of humanity.

Terms

• Ethics - a set of moral principles and values that guide behavior and decision-making. In the context of science, ethics involves conducting research with integrity, honesty, objectivity, and responsibility, while minimizing harm and respecting the rights of research subjects and society as a whole. Example: A researcher follows ethical guidelines by obtaining informed consent from study participants and protecting their confidentiality.

• Science - a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science aims to understand the natural world through observation, experimentation, and logical reasoning. Example: A scientist conducts a carefully designed study to test a hypothesis about the effectiveness of a new drug.

• Research integrity - adherence to ethical principles and professional standards essential for responsible research conduct. This includes honesty, accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity. Example: Accurately reporting research findings without fabrication or falsification.

• Informed consent - the process of obtaining voluntary agreement from human subjects to participate in research, after providing them with adequate information about the study's purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and their rights. Example: Providing a detailed consent form to potential study participants and ensuring they understand it before agreeing to participate.

• Confidentiality - the obligation to protect participants' private information gathered during research from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, loss or theft. Example: Storing research data in password-protected files and limiting access to authorized personnel only.

• Conflict of interest - a situation in which a researcher's personal or financial interests may compromise their professional judgment or actions. Example: A researcher owns stock in a company that manufactures a drug being tested in their study.

An analogy

Ethics in science is like a compass for researchers. Just as a compass provides direction and keeps travelers on the right path, ethical principles guide scientists in conducting research responsibly and with integrity, ensuring they stay on the right course and avoid pitfalls that could undermine the credibility of their work and potentially cause harm.

A main misconception

A common misconception is that ethics in science is only about preventing misconduct, such as falsifying data or plagiarism. However, ethics encompasses a much broader range of issues, including the responsible conduct of research, protection of human and animal subjects, managing conflicts of interest, and considering the societal implications of research. For example, a researcher may face ethical dilemmas when deciding whether to share preliminary findings with the public during a health crisis, balancing the need for transparency with the risk of causing panic or confusion.

The history

1. Ancient times - Early ethical principles in medicine, such as the Hippocratic Oath, emphasize the importance of benefiting patients and avoiding harm.

2. 1940s - The Nuremberg Code is established following the unethical medical experiments conducted by Nazi physicians during World War II, setting standards for human subjects research.

3. 1964 - The Declaration of Helsinki is adopted by the World Medical Association, providing ethical guidelines for medical research involving human subjects.

4. 1974 - The National Research Act is signed into law in the United States, creating the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

5. 1979 - The Belmont Report is published, establishing the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice in human subjects research.

6. 2018 - The Chinese scientist He Jiankui announces the birth of the world's first gene-edited babies, sparking global outcry and renewed debates about the ethical boundaries of genetic research.

"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." - Potter Stewart, former Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, known for his contributions to legal ethics and civil rights law.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. When designing a study, researchers should carefully consider the potential risks and benefits to participants and ensure that the study is ethically justified. They should also develop a plan to protect participants' rights, safety, and confidentiality throughout the research process.

2. Researchers should be transparent about any conflicts of interest that may influence their work, such as financial relationships with industry sponsors. They should disclose these conflicts to their institutions, research participants, and in publications to maintain trust in the scientific process.

3. When collaborating with colleagues or mentoring students, researchers should foster a culture of ethical conduct by discussing ethical issues openly, leading by example, and providing training on responsible conduct of research. They should also be prepared to report any suspected misconduct through appropriate channels.

Interesting facts

• A study found that nearly 2% of scientists admitted to falsifying, fabricating, or modifying data at least once, while 14% knew of colleagues who had done so.

• The retraction rate for scientific articles has increased tenfold since 1975, with 67% of retractions due to misconduct such as fraud or suspected fraud.

• In a survey of over 3,000 U.S. scientists, 33% reported engaging in questionable research practices, such as changing study design to improve results or overlooking others' use of flawed data.

• The cost of research misconduct is estimated to be as high as $100 billion per year worldwide, including the direct costs of conducting fraudulent research and the indirect costs of undermining public trust in science.

• A 2019 study found that only 32% of biomedical research papers included a statement about ethical approval or informed consent, despite these being essential requirements for human subjects research.