Ethical Issues Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

This paper describes the highlights of presentations and discussions during the Third International BCI Meeting in a workshop that evaluated potential brain-computer interface (BCI) signals and currently available recording methods. It defined the main potential user populations and their needs, addressed the relative advantages and disadvantages of noninvasive and implanted (i.e., invasive) methodologies, considered ethical issues, and focused on the challenges involved in translating BCI systems from the laboratory to widespread clinical use. The workshop stressed the critical importance of developing useful applications that establish the practical value of BCI technology.

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- Algorithms, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Electroencephalography

This chapter provides a political and philosophical analysis of the values at stake in ensuring cyber-security for critical infrastructures. It presents a review of the boundaries of cybersecurity in nation-al security, with a focus on the ethics of surveillance for protecting critical infrastructures and the use of AI. A bibliographic analysis of the literature is applied until 2016 to identify and discuss the cybersecurity value conflicts and ethical issues in national security. This is integrated with an analy-sis of the most recent literature on cyber-threats to national infrastructure and the role of AI. This chapter demonstrates that the increased connectedness of digital and non-digital infrastructure en-hances the trade-offs between values identified in the literature of the past years, and supports this finding with the analysis of four case studies.

- by Eleonora Viganò and +2
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- National Identity, Cybersecurity, Critical infrastructure protection, Critical Infrastructures

Psychophysiological diagnostic and therapeutic methods, to include biofeedback, have been found to be empirically effective in the treatment of a variety of physical disorders. In many areas of the country, however, certified biofeedback practitioners are not well distributed, limiting patient access to this treatment modality. Psychologists at Tripler Army Medical Center have pioneered efforts to develop and provide these needed

- by Larry James
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- Psychology, Cognitive Science, Medical Ethics, Telemedicine
- by harriett sly
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- Ethics, Health Promotion, Government, Health Care

The prevalence of high-order multiple (HOM) pregnancies has increased because of ovulation induction, assisted reproductive technologies, and spontaneous conceptions in older mothers. Pregnancies with 3 or more fetuses carry heightened morbidity and mortality risks for mothers and children. Although many families cope well, psychosocial complications include stress, marital and financial strain, social stigma, depression, grief, and neglect of multiples and their siblings. Adequate support reduces adverse consequences. Multiple births strain societal resources. With fertility treatment, the desires of patients, business pressures of clinics, and financial, legal, and religious considerations influence HOM conception rates. Maternal autonomy in fertility treatments must be balanced against obligations to prospective children and society. Selective termination of abnormal fetuses and multifetal pregnancy reduction are ethically justifiable, but may contradict parents' or clinicians' values. Decisions for moribund multiples are difficult. Media coverage is often inaccurate or intrusive, but benefits some families. Skilled care, accurate information, and practical resources optimize outcomes.

- by Karen Ciclitira
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- Ethical Issues
- by Caitlin Mitchell
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- Sociology, Calculus, Production, Mobile Robots

Rapid advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology are profoundly influencing the ways in which we conceptualize the world of the future, and human ability to manipulate matter at the atomic and molecular levels offers previously unimagined possibilities for scientific discovery and technological applications. The convergence of nanotechnology with biotechnology, information technology, cognitive science, and engineering may hold promise for the improvement of human performance at a number of levels. Based on a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in nanoscience and nanotechnology at the University of Central Florida (summer 2002), a variety of social and ethical issues associated with these advances is discussed. Implications for the future of science-technology-society studies and K-16 science education also are presented.

- by Aldrin E. Sweeney
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- Sociology, Cognitive Science, Information Technology, Science Education

There has been increasing recognition of the high physical morbidity in patients with severe mental illness, but little has been written about cancer in these patients. Therefore, we review the published work on risk of cancer in patients with severe mental illness, treatment challenges, and ethical issues. Severe mental illness is associated with behaviours that predispose an individual to an increased risk of some cancers, including lung and breast cancer, although lower rates of other cancers are reported in this population. Severe mental illness is also associated with disparities in screening for cancer and with higher case-fatality rates. This higher rate is partly due to the specifi c challenges of treating these patients, including medical comorbidity, drug interactions, lack of capacity, and diffi culties in coping with the treatment regimen as a result of psychiatric symptoms. To ensure that patients with severe mental illness receive eff ective treatment, inequalities in care need to be addressed by all health-care professionals involved, including those from mental health services and the surgical and oncology teams.

- by Diana Rose
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- Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Drug interactions, Comorbidity
- by Elaine Elisabetsky
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- Economics, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Plant Biology, Politics

in those with life-threatening disease, prognosis is unpredictable. communication with the patient and family must guide the clinician, always weighing up the benefits against the risks and burdens of any intervention, and recognizing when interventions are futile in the face of irreversible deterioration. there is no evidence that patients' lives are shortened when opioids and other drugs are used to control pain and other symptoms, which challenges the usual examples for double effect (having good and bad consequences) as given in many standard textbooks. Some patients make advance decisions to refuse treatment, in the event of losing decision-making capacity. Such advance decisions should be properly drawn up, in writing, be situation specific and be of the patient's own free will. they will then be legally binding, and the patient will have the same standing in law as a competent patient refusing consent to an intervention. When a patient loses capacity without having expressed his wishes in advance, the clinicians must take a decision over what is in the best interests of the patient as a person. this requires that those close to the patient are consulted to seek all that can be known to inform the decision; however, when a best interests decision is taken, it is the clinician who carries the ultimate responsibility.

- by derek willis
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- Ethics, Communication, Health Care, Family

A lot of interest has been generated by the possibility of deriving gametes from embryonic stem cells and bone marrow stem cells. These stem cell derived gametes may become useful for research and for the treatment of infertility. In this article we consider prospectively the ethical issues that will arise if stem cell derived gametes are used in the clinic, making a distinction between concerns that only apply to embryonic stem cell derived gametes and concerns that are also relevant for gametes derived from adult stem cells. At present, it appears preferable to use non-embryonic stem cells for the derivation of gametes. Adult stem cell derived gametes do not present any problems with regard to the moral status of the human embryo, bypass the safety risks linked to SCNT and do not present any ambiguity or novel problems with regard to informed consent, psychological consequences for the child or genetic parenthood. A remaining ethical concern, however, regards the safety of the procedure in terms of the welfare of the resulting children. This should spark a thorough reflection on how far one must go to accommodate a person&amp;amp;amp;#39;s wish to have a genetically related child.

- by Guido Pennings and +1
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- Genetics, Informed Consent, Adult Stem Cells, Stem Cell
- by Simona Surdu
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- Environmental Health, Adolescent, Environmental Sciences, Child

In this paper we demonstrate our methodology and architecture for teaching a computer ethics course within an e-learning environment. This work is an initial step towards an autonomous module, which aims to improve students' ethical decision making. Despite the debate on whether such a topic can be taught and consequently influence the students' ethical behavior, we argue that such training can create the necessary familiarity with ethical issues and develop awareness on cases that might include possible ethical issues., In addition, the proposed analysis path helps students handle and analyze such issues, thus improving their critical thinking and ethical decision making.

- by Nikolaos V Karadimas
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- Critical Thinking, Computer Ethics, Online Learning, Ethical decision making

This paper presents some of the background to the development of the Youth Olympic Games, the principles underlying them, and some of the practical challenges in implementing them. Regarding the sports programme, modifications from the Olympic Games programme are noted, and innovations examined in terms of underlying values, such as immaturity and harm, talent identification and early specialisation, and the exploitation of young athletes. Issues arising from the first edition of the YOG include participation and equality of opportunity, selection of sports and nations for the programme, age and fairness, age falsification and cheating, victory and defeat, participation and excellence, and political discrimination, peace and international understanding. The paper concludes that, although many of the above issues present alreadyexisting challenges for the Olympic movement, albeit in a novel form, there were also some novel issues thrown up by a 'youth' edition of the Olympic Games, and many of the ethical and other value questions raised have much wider applications and consequences. It is to be hoped that ethical issues arising out of the YOG will provide a fresh impetus towards discussions as to the nature and promotion of ethical sport. Resumen Este artículo presenta parte del telón de fondo de la evolución de los juegos de la olimpiada de la juventud, sus principios subyacentes, y algunos de los desafíos prácticos a la hora de implementarlos. En cuanto al programa deportivo, se resaltan las modificaciones realizadas al programa de los juegos olímpicos, se examinan las innovaciones en cuanto a los valores subyacentes, tales como la inmadurez o el daño/lesión, la búsqueda del talento y la especialización prematura, y la explotación de los jóvenes atletas. Problemas que surgen de la primera edición de los JOJ [ YOG, siglas en inglés] incluyen la participación y la igualdad de oportunidad, la selección de deportes y naciones para el programa, la edad y la imparcialidad, la falsificación y la trampa, la victoria y la derrota, el participar y la excelencia, y la discriminación política, la paz y el entendimiento internacional. El artículo concluye con que, aunque muchos de los temas mencionados anteriormente presentan desafíos ya existentes en el movimiento olímpico, pero con matices diferentes, también hay algunos temas nuevos que han salido a relucir a raíz de una edición «de la juventud» de los juegos olímpicos, y que muchas de las cuestiones éticas y otras cuestiones de valor que surgen tienen aplicaciones y consecuencias mucho más amplias. Es de esperar que los asuntos éticos que se presentan a partir de los JOJ proporcionaran un nuevo ímpetu a las discusiones sobre la naturaleza y la promoción del deporte ético.

- by Jim Parry
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- Philosophy, Ethics, Applied Ethics, Olympic Games

This article focuses on garments used in care environments. We investigate a patient overall, developed for the care of people with severe memory problems, severe learning difficulties and brain injuries. The aim of the use of a patient overall is to prevent undressing in socially inappropriate situations and/or to stop the user from removing an incontinence pad. This article is based on interviews of designers of medical textiles and patients and family carers in Finland. Both designers and patients found patient overalls to be infantilizing and stigmatizing for the user but accepted the basic functions of the product. We report results of a design project aimed at designing a new type of garment that takes into account the technical requirements but provides a more dignified look and opportunities for activity. We discuss the ethical issues concerning the use of this kind of product in the care of people with dementia.

- by Sonja Iltanen-Tähkävuori
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- Cognitive Science, Nursing, Dementia, Learning Difficulties

Participants in substance abuse research may be vulnerable for multiple reasons. International research ethics guidelines and policy statements require that researchers provide extra protections when conducting research with vulnerable subjects, but it is uncertain which measures best protect vulnerable individuals. Concerns about vulnerability have been translated into only the vaguest regulatory requirements, and very little empirical data exist to guide researchers and ethics review committee members who want to protect participants. This article reviews two bodies of substance abuse research ethics literature. First, "normative" articles, that is, articles that discuss ethical issues that may arise in substance abuse research, are discussed. The resulting taxonomy of ethical issues then guides a review of empirical studies on issues like the informed consent process and the use of financial incentives in substance abuse research. While the ethical issues in substance abuse research are numerous and well-documented, the evidentiary base for addressing these issues is inadequate. If any one major theme emerged from the existing studies, it is that many well-intentioned, protectionist concerns -about recruitment incentives, consent comprehension, and drug administration studies -are not supported by empirical data. While these findings are at best tentative, they suggest how research on research ethics might ultimately benefit participants.

- by James DuBois
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- Literature, Research Ethics, Professional Ethics, Informed Consent

The current study has offered pertinent insights into a variety of ethical issues inevitably imposed by the emerging digital technologies on journalistic ethics. At the start, the study has engaged in the definitional delimitation of our key concepts trying to forme valid conceptual abstractions and exploring new meanings. Following that, the study shed light on intricately turbulent ethical paradoxes and dilemma that the digital media landscape is going through currently. In parallel, the study proposed Value Determinism Theory of media as a normative alternative that provides an eclectic epistemological framework to ethicalize unsettling traditional and digital media practices and outputs.
طَرحت الدراسة الحالية جُملة من الاستبصارات الدالة حول بعض الاستشكالات الأخلاقية التي فَرضتها التكنولوجيات الرقمية بشكل إكراهي على أخلاقيات الممارسة الصحفية. في المُستَهل، انخرطت الدراسة في دينامية تحديد المفاهيم المركزية قَصد مُحاولة صياغة تجريدات مفاهيمية مُوائمة و استجلاء معانيها و دلالاتها الجديدة. كما سَلَطت الدراسة الضوء على طيبولوجيا و مستويات أهم المعضلات الأخلاقية و التناقضات المعيارية التي تُميز مشهد الميديا الرقمية في راهنيته الحالية. بالتوازي مع ذلك، اقترحت الدراسة نظرية الحتمية القيمية كبديل معياري يوفر مَسلكا ابستيمولوجيا اصطِفائِيا من شأنه تأطير و أخلقة ممارسات ومُخرجات الوسائط الاعلامية الكلاسيكية والرقمية على حد السواء.

Increasing emphasis on genetic research means that growing numbers of human research projects in Australia will involve complex issues related to genetic privacy, familial information and genetic epidemiology. The Office of Population... more

- by Beverley McNamara
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- Genetics, Law, Applied Ethics, Genetic Epidemiology

De plus en plus d'ergothérapeutes, au pays comme ailleurs, optent pour la pratique privée de la profession (Slogett et al., 2003). En tant que professeurs, chargés d'enseignement ou superviseurs de stage, nous nous devons de bien préparer les étudiants aux défis de ce secteur de la pratique ergothérapique, notamment aux enjeux éthiques 2 de ce secteur. Mais quels sont les enjeux éthiques que soulève la pratique privée de l'ergothérapie? Peu d'écrits ont, à ce jour, documenté les enjeux éthiques rencontrés par les ergothérapeutes qui travaillent en pratique privée (Goulet et Drolet, soumis).

- by Marie-Josée Drolet and +1
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- Ethics, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, Ethical Issues

Plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery refers to a variety of operations performed in order to repair or restore body parts to look normal or to enhance a certain structure or anatomy that is already normal. Several ethical considerations such as a patient’s right for autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, and nonmalfeasance need to be given careful consideration. The principal objective of

- by Henrique N Radwanski
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- Ethics, Informed Consent, Medical Ethics, Brazil
- by kenrick berend
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- Informed Consent, Medical Ethics, Medicine, Erythropoietin

The contributions of Canadian community psychologists to ethics, theory, methodology, research, and practise are highlighted in this article. Important debates about ethical issues in psychological research and practise have been advanced by Canadian community psychologists. Canadian community psychologists have also introduced theoretical perspectives (e.g., cognitive community psychology) that have provided an impetus for research and practise, and they have broadened the focus of research in community settings with contributions to participatory action research, program evaluation, and qualitative methods. A variety of substantive contributions have been made to the research literature, especially in the areas of community mental health, prevention, and social inclusion. Finally, Canadian community psychologists have contributed to practise in terms of policy, programs, and social interventions. The article concludes with a discussion of future potential areas of contribution for Canadian community psychology.

- by Geoffrey Nelson
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- Participatory Action Research, Mental Health, Social Inclusion, Ethical Issues

Choices about how to view evidence-based practice (EBP) are being made by educators, practitioners, agency administrators, and staff in a variety of organizations designed to promote integration of research and practice such as clearinghouses on EBP. Choices range from narrow views of EBP such as use of empirically based guidelines and treatment manuals to the broad philosophy and evolving process of EBP, envisioned by its originators, that addresses evidentiary, ethical, and application issues in a transparent context. Current views of EBP and policy are reviewed, and choices that reflect the adopted vision and related indicators are described. Examples include who will select the questions on which research efforts are focused, what outcomes will be focused on, who will select them and on what basis, how transparent to be regarding the evidentiary status of services, how clients will be involved, and whether to implement needed organizational changes. A key choice is whether to place ethical issues front and center.

- by Eileen Gambrill
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- Social Work, Organizational Change, Mental Health, Evidence Based Practice
- by Geoff Moore
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- Business Ethics, Philosophy, Research Ethics, Higher Education

Medical Education 2010: 44: 723–730Objectives This study aimed to examine the most common and important ethical issues confronting medical students during clinical rotations so that ethics-related topics can be prioritised according to students’ needs and this information used to develop a curriculum for the ethics course.Methods In a cross-sectional approach, we reviewed the medical ethics-related cases recorded in the logbooks of all medical students (n = 241) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences who attended the medical ethics course during October 2006 to July 2007. As part of a graded assignment, each student was required to record three encounters with ethics-related issues in his or her logbook. A total of 713 cases were assessed. Information related to the ethical issues and the conditions in which ethical issues arose was extracted and recorded by two experts, whose analysis showed agreement of kappa 0.77. In cases of discrepancy, both experts reviewed and discussed the record until they achieved agreement.Results A total of 713 cases were analysed. The most common issues reported by students related to ethics in medical education (20.1%, n = 143), professionalism (18.8%, n = 134), confidentiality (7.6%, n = 54), the doctor–patient relationship (7.3%, n = 52), informed consent (7.0%, n = 50) and the doctor–peer relationship (7.0%, n = 50). After adjusting for length of rotation, the highest numbers of ethics-related incidents were reported from urology, general surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, neurology, and obstetrics and gynaecology wards.Conclusions The results of this study indicate that professionalism and related elements represent one of the most important areas of concern that need to be addressed when planning courses for medical students. The other significant area of concern is that of ethics in medical education, which, although the subject is not considered essential for medical practitioners, should be taught and respected so that student sensitivity to medical ethics is maintained and even increased.

- by Fariba Asghari
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- Ethics, Education, Medical Education, Informed Consent

This paper attempts to provide a critical overview of international published discourse relating to ethical issues in pharmacy practice from 1990 to 2002. We found that there is little research literature specifically addressing ethics in pharmacy practice and almost none addressing fundamental philosophical issues or values for pharmacy ethics. There is no dedicated journal for pharmacy ethics. Most material relating to pharmacy ethics is articulated as codes or pronouncements from professional bodies, as opinion or reflection in textbooks and in debate such as letters and articles. However, this should not be taken to mean that pharmacy and ethics are strangers; simply that such matters are not frequently analysed in published pharmacy literature. The presumption is usually that most matters of pharmacy ethics are very familiar and require no exploration or explanation.

- by Paul Bissell
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- Pharmacology, Sociology, Pharmacy, Anthropology

Arguing that the role of informal conversations in qualitative social and educational research methodologies is contested but also relatively neglected, in this article we set out how the method has influenced our research approaches and practice. We use an example of a conversation between one of us and a participant to highlight their nuanced and specific nature, and to raise and interrogate a number of ethical and methodological issues that emerge. We view informal conversations as opportunities to add "context" and "authenticity" to data and argue that they can unlock otherwise missed opportunities to expand and enrich data. We also consider the role of ethical boards and ethical guidelines, and the practical effects and consequences these have for researchers when they use informal conversations during their fieldwork.

- by Jon Swain
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- Ethnographic fieldwork, Ethical Issues, Ethical guidelines, Methodological Issues

This paper examines the anti-money laundering systems of Australia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA), the extent to which they have implemented the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, and how compliance with these recommendations is affected by local cultural and economic factors. The paper makes use of FATF evaluation reports to compare the countries' compliance; it examines some of the underlying cultural considerations and culturespecific ethical issues that affect the extent of compliance, and how cultural and ethical considerations may affect good governance. The findings indicate that the UK and the USA are the most advanced with regards to their compliance with the FATF recommendations and Australia and the UAE less so. The UAE is in particular found to be least compliant. We relate this finding to previous work on how a country's legal and financial systems develop in line with its religion, culture and socio-economic situation, and examine how such local factors have affected the UAE's financial and anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) systems. This research will be of interest to policy-makers and government agencies involved in addressing money laundering and its successful detection and prosecution.

- by Nicholas Chantler
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- United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Good Governance, Financial System

In recent years there has been an increase in the general public awareness of the ethical aspects of technology. The attention given by the media to computer-related disasters in technical systems such as the explosion of the Ariane 5 rocket in 1996 and the Therac-25 computerized radiation machine overdoses has stimulated interest in Computer Ethics.

- by Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic
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- Research Ethics, Computer Ethics, Quality of life, Professional Ethics

Cost-effectiveness analysis provides important information about the economic ef®ciency of health-related programs that can help health care decision makers choose between competing alternatives. Ethical concerns (such as equity and other issues of fairness) are critical to any discussion of health care resource allocation, as are the political and societal context in which such decisions are made and implemented. Here, we present an overview of ethical and other concerns raised by the use of cost-effectiveness analysis in health care resource allocation decision-making. We review the philosophical and theoretical foundations of cost-effectiveness analysis and describe some of the ethical assumptions and implications that are embedded in, and result from, the use of this economic analysis technique. Finally, we consider how the social and political context of health-related decision affects the usefulness of the results derived from cost-effectiveness analyses. q

- by Arthur Derse
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- Program Evaluation, Decision Making, Health Care, Resource Allocation

The aim of this paper is to provide a critical and reflexive evaluation of the use of an oral history methodology in a research project investigating the lived experiences of women accountants. It discusses the nature and benefits of oral history as a research methodology, which allows the subjectivities of individuals to be central to the empirical data. It allows the voices of those who have arguably been ignored, marginalised or silenced within particular contexts to be heard. The paper draws on feminist approaches to research methodology, which stress reciprocity and the minimisation of hierarchies within research. It evaluates some of the ethical issues arising, such as the ownership of research, the use of friends and strangers as research participants, and emotion, within the research relationship. The paper concludes that, when approached critically and reflexively, oral history provides a sound epistemological and methodological base for understanding the meaning of events and experience to individuals.

- by Kathryn Haynes
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- Research Methodology, Narrative, Accounting, Reflexivity

We are facing rapid changes in the global climate, and these changes are attributable to human behavior. Humans produce this global impact through our use of natural resources, multiplied by the vast increase in population seen in the past 50 to 100 years. Our goal in this article is to examine the underlying psychosocial causes of human impact, primarily through patterns of reproduction and consumption. We identify and distinguish individual, societal, and behavioral predictors of environmental impact. Relevant research in these areas (as well as areas that would be aided by greater attention by psychologists) are reviewed. We conclude by highlighting ethical issues that emerge when considering how to address human behavioral contributions to climate change.

- by Janet Swim
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- Psychology, Cognitive Science, Social Psychology, Consumer Economics

The popularization of neuroscientific ideas about learning-sometimes legitimate, sometimes merely commercial-poses a real challenge for classroom teachers who want to understand how children learn. Until teacher preparation programs are reconceived to incorporate relevant research from the neuroand cognitive sciences, teachers need translation and guidance to effectively use information about the brain and cognition. Absent such guidance, teachers, schools, and school districts may waste time and money pursuing so called "brain-based" interventions that lack a firm basis in research. Meanwhile, the success of our schools will continue to be narrowly defined by achievement standards that ignore knowledge of the neural and cognitive processes of learning. To achieve the goals of neuroeducation, its proponents must address unique ethical issues that neuroeducation raises for five different groups of individuals: a) practicing teachers, b) neuroscience researchers whose work could inform education, c) publishers and the popular media, d) educational policy-makers, and e) university-level teacher educators. We suggest ways in which these ethical challenges can be met and provide a model for teacher preparation that will enable teachers themselves to translate findings from the neuro-and cognitive sciences and use legitimate research to inform how they design and deliver effective instruction.

- by Mariale Hardiman
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- Cognitive Science, Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Teacher Education

fit ethics teaching even more closely. Though surely the tale has prior history, it was shared by General Charles C. Krulak, USMC (Ret.) who explained, [t]he word integrity itself is a martial word that comes to us from an ancient Roman army tradition. During the time of the 12 Caesars, the Roman army would conduct morning inspections. As the inspecting centurion would come in front of each legionnaire, the soldier would strike with his right fist the armor breastplate that covered his heart. The armor had to be strongest there in order to protect the heart from the sword thrusts and from arrow strikes. As the soldier struck his armor, he would shout 'integritas,' which in Latin means material, wholeness, completeness, and entirety. The inspecting centurion would listen closely for this affirmation and also for the ring that well-kept armor would give off. Satisfied that the armor was sound and that the soldier beneath it was protected, he would then move on to the next man.

Families and schools must assume a leadership role in preparing youth for success in the emerging information age by teaching ethical online behavior in addition to academic skills. This paper presents a preliminary overview of moral development issues that are raised when young people interact in cyberspace. A preliminary classification system of Internet ethics issues that parents and educators must address includes (1) respect for property, (2) respect for territory and privacy, (3) respect for others and common courtesy, (4) respect for institution, and (5) respect for self. Based on preliminary analysis, there appear to be four factors that influence online behavior: (1) lack of affective feedback and remoteness of harm, (2) reduced fear of risk of detection and punishment, (3) a new environment with new rules, and (4) perceptions of social injustice and corruption. Moral development research explores moral reasoning, including cognitive-moral development and domain theory; moral motivation, including internal moral orientation; and moral control, including the social cognitive theory of moral thought and action and the theory of limited acceptable morality. This review of moral development research raises many questions including, ultimately, the question of whether humans, as a species, have the capacity to expand our moral reasoning, moral motivation, and moral control capabilities to deal with the complexities of the information age. þ

- by Nancy Willard
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- Moral Development, Social Cognitive Theory, Young People, Domain Theory

Ethical failures at large, once-respected firms have dramatically illustrated that ethical behavior is of vital importance to organizations. Information technology may be one type of tool to help get widespread participation in ethical processes in distributed organizations to raise the level of awareness of ethical issues and ethics programs. This paper integrates Jones [11] model of ethical decision making with Weaver and Trevino's [22] findings on compliance with ethics programs to study ethical decision making. The study uses web-based discussion forums to examine the effects of authority and proximity (closeness to the subject) on moral reasoning concerning the punishment for a student guilty of cheating and intent of moral actors to comply with codes of ethics. It was found that authority and proximity affect ethical decisions, but the process did not increase intent to comply with the ethics code. Overall, participants seemed satisfied with the process and their decisions. 0-7695-2268

- by Sandra Richardson
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- Information Technology, Law, Ethics, Environmental Management
- by Xin Chen
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- Corporate culture, Medium, Support, Growth strategy

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine the most common and important ethical issues confronting medical students during clinical rotations so that ethics-related topics can be prioritised according to students' needs and this information... more

- by Nazila Fard and +1
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- Education, Medical Education, Informed Consent, Medical Ethics
- by intakhab khan
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- Psychology, Research Ethics, Ethical Issues

An international, multi-disciplinary group of online mental health professionals, under the auspices of the International Society for Mental Health Online, presents this 3rd-year report. This article highlights the experiences of ISMHO's Clinical Case Study Group members with regard to online clinical work across several Internet-based modalities as well as integrated online/offline approaches to mental health treatment and consultation. A number of online approaches and paradigms are presented, often combining several aspects of synchronous and asynchronous online mental health practice. The discussion is organized around case presentation material shared among colleagues as part of a unique model combining peer supervision with systematic efforts to further develop a body of shared experience and observation relevant to online clinical practice. Readers are invited to virtually "listen in" to the collective voice of the group as it reconsiders whether 10 common conceptions of Internetbased practice are in fact myth or reality. Topics range from the nature of online behavior, communication, and technology, to cultural and ethical issues, to working with populations commonly seen as not being amenable to online clinical work.

- by John Suler
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- Information Systems, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Psychiatry

This paper describes a one-day workshop format for introducing ethics into the engineering curriculum prepared at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM). It responds to the ethics criteria newly integrated into the accreditation process by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). It also employs an ethics across the curriculum (EAC) approach; engineers identify the ethical issues, write cases that dramatize these issues, and then develop exercises making use of these cases that are specially tailored to mainstream engineering classes. The different activities and strategies employed in this workshop are set forth. Specific references are made to the cases and exercises developed as a result of these workshops. The paper ends by summarizing the different assessments made of the workshop by addressing the following questions: how did it contribute to the overall ABET effort at UPRM; could other universities benefit from a similar activity; and how did the participants evaluate the workshop?

- by Jose Antonio Cruz
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- Engineering, Applied Ethics, Health Professional Education, Computer Ethics

Of the four types of biological control, (1) natural, (2) conservation, (3) augmentation, and (4) importation), ethical concerns have been raised almost exclusively about only one type: importation. These concerns rest largely on fears of extinction of animal species. Importation biological control is a cost-effective alternative to chemical control for basic food crops of resource-poor farmers. Regarding the other types of biological control, natural biological control is not consciously manipulated by humans. Augmentation has some technical concerns, but is generally an environmentally-sound, viable alternative to chemicals and offers local employment. Conservation can help empower farmers to preserve native species, while saving labor and money and reducing chemical insecticides.

- by Jeffery Bentley
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- Sociology, Biological Control, Applied Economics, Cost effectiveness

With the trend toward an older, sicker dialysis population in the USA, discussions of ethical issues surrounding dialysis have shifted from concerns about access to and availability of the therapy, to growing unease about non-initiation and treatment discontinuation. Recent studies report treatment withdrawal as the leading cause of death among elderly dialysis patients. Yet, the actual activities that move patients toward stopping treatment often remain obscure, even to clinicians and patients themselves. This paper explores that paradox, drawing on anthropological research among patients over age 70, their families, and clinicians in two California renal dialysis units. It concludes that many older patients sacrifice a sense of choice about dialysis in the present to maintain "choice" as both value and possibility for the future. Yet, patients desire more information and communication, provided earlier in their illness, about prognosis, how long they can expect to be on dialysis, and what the impact of the treatment will be on their daily lives. That, with time, there is a transition to be made from dialysis as "treatment" to end of life care could be better explained and managed to alleviate patients' confusion and unneeded isolation.

- by Janet Shim
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- Anthropology, Ethics, Decision Making, Public Health

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