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Ethics in biomedical research
Ethics in biomedical research
Reflection about bioethics
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Throughout history, there have always been ethical issues in different professions. One of the professions that has more issues now is anything related to science and research. There is no doubt that research can do great good to society by discovering cures for illness and providing new technology that can make life easier for a lot of people. The issue with research is that it has become something that is open to anyone and the boundaries that it has are the ones that were created at least forty years ago. These boundaries must be reviewed so that the research that is not necessary for society or that can harm it are controlled or even prohibited. These boundaries are called Bioethics.
The term “Bioethics” can be divided into two Greek root words that are “Bios” which means life as a whole, and “Ethos” which is about spirit of a culture and how it relates to nature. What this means is that the word as a whole means that the Ethos of a community should be coherent with helping and protecting life (Galindo). Although this term has existed for centuries and was originally created by the Greeks, the ethics themselves were officially first established in the 1970s when the “Knowledge Society” started to develop which was the effect of when new technological and scientific discoveries started affecting the community as a whole. Since that time the area of research has grown and scientists have found that they may even find cures for most of the illness that are most feared by humans (cancer, Parkinson’s, etc.). The down side to this research is that it causes many ethical issues, but there is no legal or established restriction that can stop them from doing it or that can prove that it shouldn´t be done.
On the other hand, research ...
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Bioethics is the use of morals in science. If there had been more bioethics in Henrietta Lacks’s case, her doctors may have used their morals to not take the cells from her body without her permission or at least let her family know they had. Sixteen years before her case, the Nuremberg Code had been created which stated 10 codes of ethics to be used during human experimentation. However, it was not a law and few doctors even knew it existed.The issue of informed consent was also brought up in 1957 but doctors testified it was unnecessary. However on June 30th, 1974,17 years later, a law was passed requiring informed consent for all federally funded research. The issue of bioethics affected HeLa and many began to doubt if the doctors at Johns Hopkins had really been ethical. In conclusion, Henrietta Lacks and her “immortal” cells helped the field of science and its future
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...ns of a morally questionable nature. It is necessary that our practices remain ethical and that we uphold the value of a human life, as this is the cornerstone of human society. Embryonic stem cell research is one such operation that forces scientists, policy makers, and the larger society to define what constitutes a human life and to find an answer to the crucial question: Is it morally acceptable to violate the rights of a human life for the for the sake of medical progress?
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The conflict surrounding stem cell research is, with ethical consideration, whether it is a good or bad. The majority of Americans are advocates due to the possibilities of medical advancement, thus saving thousands of lives. Those in opposition believe that it is against
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Ethics refers to the values and customs of a community at a particular point in time. At present, the term ethics is guided by the moral principles that guide our everyday actions. These moral principles guide the researcher into deciding what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. The foundation of medical ethics is governed by two philosophical frameworks that are deontology, and utilitarianism. However ultimately the ethics committees need to balance the risks, and benefits for the participants and the community associated with the particular research proposal. This balance is quite important as the well being of participants is at risk.7
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In both Beowulf and “The Wife's Lament” themes of betrayal and anger are woven into the texts. Although Unferth, Beowulf and the wife express their feelings of anger and competent through different means considering one is a women and Beowulf and Unferth are warriors. In Beowulf, both Beowulf and Unferth respond on their feeling of anger and competent by insulting each other's honor. Unferth taunts Beowulf honor out of anger that a stranger has come to his land trying to steal his glory of the kill. In the quote we see him try and prove Beowulf weak and dishonorable, “Are you the Beowulf who competed with Breca, vied with him a swimming match in the open seas...but Breca outstayed you, he was stronger...” He tries to taint Beowulf's honor, saying what chance would he have against Grendel if he could not even win a swimming match against Breca.
Sabogal, R (2010) Global Environmental Health : Sustainability. Journal of Environmental Health, 73 (3) p26-28.
In an article titled “The Ethical Implications of Gene Therapy” the group of advisers on Ethical Implications of Biotechnology of the European commission states issues and rules that should be abided by, along with beliefs on the direction of biotechnology. At its present stage, biotechnology focuses on serious diseases which are incurable at the moment, however through this research treatment for these diseases could be found. The group of advisers feel that there should be levels at which research should focus on, instead of jumping into it all at once. Basic research should be carried out prior to clinical trials, and then move on to biotechnology. This can be done by supporting research actions, organizing training and exchange programs or any other appropriate means. Gene therapy protocols require that ethical evaluation consists of processes assuring quality, transparency and efficiency without delays of treatment to the patients who need it. This is crucial because an inefficient, poor quality treatment could cost someone their life. The group also feels that gene therapy research should be restricted to serious diseases for which there is not a current treatment. Expanding research to other things could be done if a medical evaluation calls for it. Equal access should be assured to all researchers within the European Union, thus sharing information and helping to improve orphan drugs. This could also save time and money. In order to insure the public of what is going on, conclusions of evaluations should regularly be published to encourage public debate. The public is not usually informed much about genetic therapy and many people have the wrong idea about it. Should reports be published more often, there will be less public confusion and ridicule.
Natural sciences are sciences whose methodology is based on the observation of the physical world. Unlike ethics it is a highly empirical discipline. The basic and perhaps only way used to produce knowledge in the scientific world is through inductive reasoning, as the methodology that is usually followed by scientists involves conducting several experiments and making observations, based on which they make logical conclusions. Ethical judgements hinder the methods of acquiring knowledge through scientific development. Several methods require the interaction with animals, which could end up being harmful for them. Moral codes and values oppose to such situations and therefore encourage us to raise concerns every time there is a potential for scientific research involving animal experimentation. As I learned in my IB Biology course, Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs from animals,...
Bioethics is a reflection of controversial moral choices or decisions pertaining to medical and healthcare fields. There have always been ethical standards in healthcare handed down within each profession. Although ethical decisions of the past were followed without question, bioethics today is constantly debated among those in the medical field, the general public, and those in governmental positions. Technological advances within the last century have opened the door to discussion about the ethics surrounding the last medical and technological advances. The decisions are influenced by culture, religion, philosophy, and personal preference. Bioethical decisions are always open for questioning. It is even possible for issues to be ethical during one decade and upon review, deemed unethical several years later. It is the job of the medical community and the public to question these issues, debate them, and accept or reject them. Although there have been hundreds of people who have influenced bioethics through their technological advances, Sir Robert Edwards’ invitro- fertilization techniques have changed the way many women today can become a mother.