As you consider your research paper and ethics, what do you consider might be a

Question

As you consider your research paper and ethics, what do you consider might be a challenging ethical consideration? Remember that ethics are present in every decision point. It could be how you are presenting the materials, how you obtain the data, or how you are treating your participants. ?over 200 words? As you consider your research paper and ethics, what do you consider might be a challenging ethical consideration? Remember that ethics are present in every decision point. It could be how you are presenting the materials, how you obtain the data, or how you are treating your participants. ?over 200 words?

Explanation / Answer

Ethical codes or principles are an expression of how we should behave as individuals and as a society. They are moral judgments that can be applied to particular situations to help us make decisions and guide our behavior. Inevitably, they are linked to cultural values at a particular time in our history and are subject to change as attitudes and values evolve. What was normative just a half century ago, may be considered insensitive today.

Only when the research is of sufficient quality to potentially contribute to knowledge can we justify involving humans or animals and utilizing other resources. Ethical considerations may help us decide whether the research should even be done, and if so, how it should be pursued. How we conduct our scientific endeavors not only affects those directly involved, but also the public’s perception of science and scientists. Results from research provide a basis for further studies, and in addition may influence public policy and legislation. Challenges to scientific integrity can erode public confidence and belief in findings. Therefore, it is important to be transparent, competent, honest, and follow ethical guidelines in regard to research subjects.

In research there may be a conflict between the expeditious conduct of a study and the burdens of doing what is respectful to animals or humans. On the one hand, researchers are focused on expanding knowledge and on the methodology of their projects such as subject selection, sample size, research protocols, statistical analysis, equipment, and personnel. At the same time, as inherently responsible persons, they try to respect the research environment, which requires attention to the appropriate use not only of physical resources including funds, but also to human and animal subjects.

The major ethical issues in conducting research are: a) Informed consent, b) Beneficence- Do not harm c) Respect for anonymity and confidentiality d)Respect for privacy.

As per me the most challenging ethical consideration in research if Informed Consent which is explained in details as under:- (Some of its statements must be quotes)

Consent What constitutes valid informed consent?

The principle, respect for persons, is implemented through voluntary informed consent. The elements of informed consent are stated in the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Code of Federal Regulations states that Informed Consent should include:

• A statement that the study involves research, an explanation of the purposes of the research and the expected duration of the subject's participation, a description of the procedures to be followed, and identification of any procedures which are experimental;

• A description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subject;

• A description of any benefits to the subject or to others, which may reasonably be expected from the research;

• A disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures or courses of treatment, if any, that might be advantageous to the subject;

• A statement describing the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of records identifying the subject will be maintained;

• For research involving more than minimal risk, an explanation as to whether any compensation and an explanation as to whether any medical treatments are available if injury occurs and, if so, what they consist of, or where further information may be obtained;

• An explanation of whom to contact for answers to pertinent questions about the research and research subjects' rights, and whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury to the subject;

• A statement that participation is voluntary, refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled, and the subject may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled. Consent requires that adequate information is given to allow research participants to make an informed decision. Most agree this requires a determination that the potential subject has the capacity to consent, along with disclosure of the research purposes and procedures, risks and benefits and alternative procedures available.

Participants must be informed that they can withdraw from the research without penalty, and that confidentiality will be maintained. But, how much information should be disclosed? How should it be communicated? How does one assure comprehension? How much does a reasonable person want to know? Investigators are faced with the ethical dilemma of providing enough information to allow a potential research participant to make an informed choice but not providing so much information that the potential subject is overwhelmed or scared away, or that the results are compromised.

Today, research is seen as a collaborative partnership between investigators, participants and their institutions. Implementation of the principle of respect for persons has come to include engaging communities in research and negotiating community consent. In today’s environment, it is considered good practice to have community involvement during every phase of research from planning to reporting. However, who is the community? Communities differ in their organization and cultural traditions. When an investigator is studying a community or group rather than the individual, who shall consent for the group? Is group and individual consent appropriate? Is it more effective to discuss research and answer questions in an individual or group setting?

Other issues involve consent for research that will extend over a period of time. In doing research on degenerative diseases, e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, we do not know that a person who consented when competent is willing to continue participation in research after s/he has experienced cognitive and emotional changes and whose cognitive capacity is questionable. In such situations a research advance directive may be helpful. A research partner or other person may be able to give substitute or surrogate consent and/or, as an advocate who knows the person well, judge whether the advance directive should be followed. In such situations, the consent process should include information on whether the data can be used if the participant withdraws from the research, and whether follow-up information can be sought.

Research is a process during which participants may have questions, change their minds or reconsider their participation. Disease processes may change the situation or cognitive capacity of the participant. Respect for persons requires that investigators engage in ongoing discussion about the research, respond to questions honestly and to the fullest extent possible, and respect participants who decide to withdraw from research or to change the terms of their participation. Conflicts among ethical principles may arise. For example, ethical conduct of research requires that the investigators adhere to their research plan and to their recruitment plan for selection and retention of subjects so that valid analyses can be done. Investigators have an interest in completing the research as planned, yet this may not be possible if identifiable subsets of subjects do not consent or withdraw from the research prior to its completion. The investigators are confronted with the ethical dilemma of altering the recruitment plan which may introduce bias or a systematic effect, changing recruitment incentives, or compromising the consent process by withholding information that makes recruitment or retention more difficult. They may modify their research aims and work with a more limited sample. Alternatively, they may recruit more subjects to achieve their research aims. Such changes might mean a longer time to complete the research and/or difficulty achieving the sample at the projected budget.

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