The success of this resolution of the ethical dilemma has been both criticized and defended by many. In particular, some argue that it is rarely the case that reasons to favor one therapy are in fact evenly balanced by reasons to favor an alternative. In fact, new studies are initiated precisely because a new therapy appears promising. So, while the concept of equipoise may work in theory, it is rarely satisfied in practice. Others augment this critique by pointing out that what matters ethically is not whether the medical community is in equipoise about the merits of the standard versus the experimental therapy, but rather whether the individual physician enrolling patients in the study himself favors one treatment over another. This critique emphasizes the importance of that physician’s individual role-based obligation to provide his patient with what he believes to be the best care. Still others argue that even were the individual physician in a state of equipoise, that state would rarely be mirrored by an equipoise in the patient regarding which of the therapies’ potential side-effects or methods best fit her values and interests.
(2) The expression “basic ethical principles” refers to those general judgments that serve as a basic justification for the many particular ethical prescriptions and evaluations of human actions. Three basic principles, among those generally accepted in our cultural tradition, are particularly relevant to the ethics of research involving human subjects: the principles of respect of persons, beneficence and justice. Respect for persons incorporates at least two ethical convictions: first, that individuals should be treated as autonomous agents, and second, that persons with diminished autonomy are entitled to protection. The principle of respect for persons thus divides into two separate moral requirements: the requirement to acknowledge autonomy and the requirement to protect those with diminished autonomy. An autonomous person is an individual capable of deliberation about personal goals and of acting under the direction of such deliberation. To respect autonomy is to give weight to autonomous persons’ considered opinions and choices while refraining from obstructing their actions unless they are clearly detrimental to others. To show lack of respect for an autonomous agent is to repudiate that person’s considered judgments, to deny an individual the freedom to act on those considered judgments, or to withhold information necessary to make a considered judgment, when there are no compelling reasons to do so. However, not every human being is capable of self-determination.
The Essay on Respect And Discipline Ethical Actions Decisions
PerseveranceRespectIntegrityDisciplineExcellencePrinciples o Respect the dignity of all persons o Serve Canada before self Obey and support lawful authority Obligations: o INTEGRITY: We give precedence to ethical principles and obligations in our decisions and actions. We respect all ethical obligations deriving from applicable laws and regulations. We do not condone unethical conduct. o LOYALTY: ...
The capacity for self-determination matures during an individual’s life, and some individuals lose this capacity wholly or in part because of illness, mental disability, or circumstances that severely restrict liberty. Respect for the immature and the incapacitated may require protecting them as they mature or while they are incapacitated. Some persons are in need of extensive protection, even to the point of excluding them from activities which may harm them; other persons require little protection beyond making sure they undertake activities freely and with awareness of possible adverse consequence. The extent of protection afforded should depend upon the risk of harm and the likelihood of benefit. The judgment that any individual lacks autonomy should be periodically reevaluated and will vary in different situations. In most cases of research involving human subjects, respect for persons demands that subjects enter into the research voluntarily and with adequate information. In some situations, however, application of the principle is not obvious.
Research Paper 11
Introduction Water is one of the basic necessities and needs for survival. They say we can live for several days without food but not without water. We cannot ensure the water that we drink coming from the wells and from the water being supplied by our government. People may find ways on how to ensure safety and clean drinking water. Water business started to get popular with the production of ...
The involvement of prisoners as subjects of research provides an instructive example. On the one hand, it would seem that the principle of respect for persons requires that prisoners not be deprived of the opportunity to volunteer for research. On the other hand, under prison conditions they may be subtly coerced or unduly influenced to engage in research activities for which they would not otherwise volunteer. Respect for persons would then dictate that prisoners be protected. Whether to allow prisoners to “volunteer” or to “protect” them presents a dilemma. Respecting persons, in most hard cases, is often a matter of balancing competing claims urged by the principle of respect itself..
