Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Ethical Dilemma and the Application of Ethics- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theEthical Dilemma and the Application of Ethics forDilemma. Answer: Introduction Ethics describes the moral code, the duties and the cumulative responsibilities and human behaviors that people engage in under specific situations that warrant human action (Avasthi, A., Ghosh, A., Sarkar, S., Grover, S, 2013) . In the context of scenario two where Justin and Daisy were doctoral students, we can see that the ethical principle of fidelity has been radically infringed. Although the results produced seemed to be adequate and effective, there are very many ethical principles that they have been broken that lead to many more questions. Can the results be reliable despite their inability to follow the ethical principles of fidelity? We are left to wonder what a medical scientist should do when he or she identifies that the research performed does not have any ounce of integrity within it. Should the research be dismissed or not? The participants in this case have also been denied the fundamental principle of autonomy (they participated under duress). Participants should not have been bribed to participate. Body To answer this questions, it is important to consider ethical theories that are appropriate for this case. One of these ethical theory is deontology or formalisms that was postulated by the philosopher Immanuel Kant. Deontology is the ethical theory that mainly considers the intrinsic significance of the act itself as a criteria for determination of good (Mandal, J., Ponnambath, D. K., Parija, S. C, 2016). That means in determining the ethics of this situation (where participants of the research were bribed to offer data), it will be important to consider the motives of the actors or researchers in this case. The virtue theory highlights the importance of considering what a good person would do when faced with the same situation -in this case having unwilling participants (Taylor, 2013). It is important to consider what a good researcher would do in such a case where the participants rejected to participate in the research after a while. Kant established the concept of categorical imperative which illuminates that one should act only if the action is based on a principle that is universal. In this case, this means everyone would act in the same way when faced with a similar situation (Slomka, J., Quill, B., desVignes-Kendrick, M., Lloyd, L. E, 2008). However, in this case of Justin and Daisy (where participants were not willing to participate in the study), it would not be true to say that all the researchers would result to paying participants for them to participate in the research in question. This aspect significantly raises an ethical concern. It shows the extent unto which the researchers have significantly altered and interfered with ethical principles. The principle of autonomy has been significantly infringed by the researchers. Autonomy is associated with the right of self-determination (Owonikoko, 2013). By paying the participants $200, the researchers have clearly interfered with the decision making process and autonomy of the participants -they have participated in the research under duress. Autonomy forms the basis of informed consent within the healthcare system (Varelius, 2006). Patients within health facilities have the right to make an informed decision about their own health, part of that decision will involve obtaining information and appropriate facts which are necessary in-order to make an intelligent and informed decision about their own health care (Nijhawan, L. P., Janodia, M. D., Muddukrishna, B. S., Bhat, K. M., Bairy, K. L., Udupa, N., Musmade, P. B, 2013). However, by interfering with the participants, the integrity of the research is obscured and thus patients may not be receiving correct and relevant informa tion. This aspect affects the overall right of the patients to make appropriate decisions about their health. In addition, the principle of fidelity has been significantly interfered with. Fidelity in itself describes being faithful and keeping promises (Breitenstein, S. M., Gross, D., Garvey, C. A., Hill, C., Fogg, L., Resnick, B, 2010). Fidelity has been interfered with in this case in that the researchers have not been faithful. The researchers have applied their own interests upon the participants and in this regard have interfered with the results (Yip, C., Han, N. L. R., Sng, B. L, 2016). The viewpoint of the research participants have also not been effectively represented in the research. The researchers have also not supported the participants decision to leave the research even if it conflicts with their own interest. They have chosen rather to pay participants which is against the set norm of any research. The researchers have also failed to share with other researchers (and in their own research) about the actual viewpoint of the participants who left the research (Mandal, J., H alder, A., Parija, S. C., 2011). Cumulatively, the principle of veracity has been significantly affected. Veracity in itself illuminates saying the truth, neither lying nor deceiving other people (Iaccarino, 2001). The researchers have deceived the insurance companies, the patients who undergo the Pilates programme, other researchers, among many other members of the health care team. This heightened levels of insincerity can be seen by the way in which they have moved to obtain $200 to pay each of the participants. The overall results of the research can, therefore, not be trusted and are highly insignificant. It is clear to see that informed consent has been severely affected in the research in question. Informed consent is the deliberate process through which the participants or subjects of a research voluntarily confirms his or her willingness to participate or be involved in a particular trial, soon after being informed of all the aspects of the trial or research that are relevant to the client in question. An informed consent must be sought after from the clients within the study. Based on the principles of informed consent, the participants should be informed of their right to refuse to continue in the study in question. However, we can see that this principle was severely breached as the participants were later manipulated to continue with the study. A good study should additionally avoid bias, inappropriate use of research methodology and incorrect reporting and the inappropriate use of information (Resnik, 2002). This research has severely impeded this principle rule of research. Good and well-designed studies should advance medical science and development. On the other hand, poorly conducted research studies violate the principle of justice. In addition, there is time and wastage for the research sponsors in question, the subjects and the researchers such as is seen in the research performed in case two. Fraud is another as aspect which can be clearly seen in the research which is rather uncalled for. The fabrication of and manipulation of data or falsification encompasses a serious misconduct (Yip et al, 2016). Not only does fraud tarnish the name of the researchers if identified, but also acts as a harbor to productivity and achieving of the needed results. Fraud may essentially weakens the accuracy and trust of the research. Fraud also harbors the establishment of evidence based medicine. The Declaration of Helsinki, the Council of International Organizations of Medical Sciences or World Health Organization have specified rules that guide the way incentives have to be administered to research participants (Yip et al, 2016) . Cash or other benefits of any kind should be made know to the participants when they are obtaining the researchers are obtaining consent from the subjects. However, there should not be a lot attention on the particular incentives the incentives should not be seen as the main reason for joining the research (Yip et al, 2016). The benefits or profits should be seen as a form of thanks or appreciation for the time and effort to perform in the study. However, this incentives are subject to Ethical Committee Review at any time (Yip et al, 2016). In this research project performed by Justin and Daisy, we can see that many charters have been broken and ignored. They primarily used the incentives after receiving the clients consent- which is wrong. They a lso did not seek ethical committee review for the actions that they performed. Conversely, it can be seen that the results obtained from the researcher were used and are still being used in the management of patients. It can be seen that some of the elderly patients have benefited from the finding of the research despite the hurdles and fraudulent mechanisms that were used to obtain the results. The Pilates programme proved effective although some of the elderly people soon withdraw from it after a while. This however, does not render the results completely inadequate and raises a conflict between the breach of the principles laid down and the effectiveness of the research and its applicability in the healthcare system. Conclusion Despite the fact that the research did not follow the essential rules and principles of medical research, we see that the results obtained are being used in the management of patients. However, the ethical conflict is still posed, whether it was right for the researchers to obscure truthfulness and in their activities as they did. They used lies and fraud lent means in order to obtain their results. The fact that most participants in their 70 or old age could not continue with the research makes us wonder if it was not appropriate for the incentives to be given after the consent was already given to them earlier on. However, despite this ethical conflicts arising it is clear to see that the outcome of the research was both beneficial and sometimes inadequate. It is highly recommended that this research is submitted to the ethical committee for review so that a decision can be reached as to whether it is appropriate or not. References Avasthi, A., Ghosh, A., Sarkar, S., Grover, S. (2013). Ethics in medical research: General principles with special reference to psychiatry research.Indian journal of psychiatry,55(1), 86. Breitenstein, S. M., Gross, D., Garvey, C. A., Hill, C., Fogg, L., Resnick, B. (2010). Implementation fidelity in community?based interventions.Research in nursing health,33(2), 164-173. Iaccarino, M. (2001). Science and ethics: As research and technology are changing society and the way we live, scientists can no longer claim that science is neutral but must consider the ethical and social aspects of their work.EMBO reports,2(9), 747-750. Mandal, J., Halder, A., Parija, S. C. (2011). Ethics and clinical research.Tropical parasitology,1(2), 54. Mandal, J., Ponnambath, D. K., Parija, S. C. (2016). Utilitarian and deontological ethics in medicine.Tropical parasitology,6(1), 5. Nijhawan, L. P., Janodia, M. D., Muddukrishna, B. S., Bhat, K. M., Bairy, K. L., Udupa, N., Musmade, P. B. (2013). Informed consent: Issues and challenges.Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology research,4(3), 134. Owonikoko, T. K. (2013). Upholding the principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice in phase I clinical trials.The oncologist,18(3), 242-244. Resnik, D. B. (2002). Exploitation and the ethics of clinical trials.The American Journal of Bioethics,2(2), 28-30. Slomka, J., Quill, B., desVignes-Kendrick, M., Lloyd, L. E. (2008). Professionalism and ethics in the public health curriculum.Public health reports,123(2_suppl), 27-35. Taylor, R. M. (2013). Ethical principles and concepts in medicine. InHandbook of clinical neurology(Vol. 118, pp. 1-9). Elsevier. Varelius, J. (2006). The value of autonomy in medical ethics.Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy,9(3), 377-388. Yip, C., Han, N. L. R., Sng, B. L. (2016). Legal and ethical issues in research.Indian journal of anaesthesia,60(9), 684.

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