HSCI705 Discussion Honor and Integrity in Science

The purpose of this discussion is to create and publish a handbook that outlines the ethical principles that researchers in my department must follow. I would start by creating the values that best reflect the department. As I analyze this, I believe the appropriate response for the department is that we must consider the security, confidentiality, and integrity of the research subject being evaluated at the facility.

Animal research would likely be obsolete in my department. It’s challenging to accomplish that when it comes to animal research when you consider the ethical criteria that were established above. The degree of pain and suffering that can be inflicted upon animals by researchers is not covered by US research legislation. I discovered that the broader research area doesn’t really support animal studies when I dug more into the subject. According to Hackman and Redelmeier (2006) “medical treatments developed in animals rarely translated to humans.” Since animal research has fallen out of favor with the wider research community, it will be eliminated from the sorts of study undertaken at the department.

Seeing that animal research will not be apart of this facility, I can focus on human research and the steps needed to protect the individuals that are participating in the study. A 7-step framework created by Emanual (2000), when correctly implemented, offers the right safeguards for human subjects. The first of Emanual’s seven phases involves making sure the research’s worth advances human life or knowledge. Second, the study must be methodologically sound and have scientific validity. Thirdly, fair subject selection should be used by researchers to establish the communities chosen as study locations and the inclusion criteria for specific subjects. Fourth, researchers must establish a positive risk-benefit ratio by minimizing hazards, maximizing possible societal advantages, and ensuring that the potential benefits to people and societal knowledge outweigh the dangers. Fifth, Emanual recommended that all research be subjected to an unbiased evaluation by experts who are not connected to it. Sixth, each participant in the study must be made aware of the risks and advantages so they may provide permission to the study with full knowledge of the circumstances. Finally, each research participant must be given the option to leave the study, have their privacy respected, and have their health examined periodically throughout the study.

It is my belief that by including Emanual’s seven phases into the research policy handbook, the department can assure successful research that advances society’s health and knowledge.

References

Emanuel, E. J. (2000). What makes clinical research ethical? JAMA, 283(20), 2701. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.20.2701

Hackam, D. G., & Redelmeier, D. A. (2006). Translation of research evidence from animals to humans. JAMA, 296(14), 1727–1732. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.296.14.1731