What is ethics?
study of general nature of morals and moral choices
morals: conforming to established ideas of right and wrong
unwritten guidelines
ethics vs laws
laws are….
formal, written standards
- designed to apply to everyone
- enforced by gov agencies
- interpreted by courts
impossible to pass laws to cover every possibility
unethical behaviour
- isn’t necessarily illegal
- not all illegal behaviour is unethical
- not conforming to approved standards
amoral behaviour
- no sense of right or wrong
- no interest in moral consequences
which system of ethics works best?
- no universal agreement
- ethical decisions are greatly influenced by personal ethics
McGill & Unethical research
Project MK Ultra
- CIA mind control experiment
- unconsenting patients
- sensory deprivation, LSD, electroshock therapy, and other mind control methods
devastating effects on patients invoved
Research ethics board at McGill
proper certification required before research if working with
- human participants, animals, radioactive or biohazardous materials
Enforcing ethics
- no data can be collected without or prior to an approval
- funding withheld until approval
General rule of ethics requirements
always required with children
assume any human subjects
EXCEPTION–> designated representatives of organizations
Research ethics board-1 (REB-1)
law, arts (except: social work, information studies), engineering, management, continuing studies, religious studies, science (except : psych)
REB-2
linguistics, psych, music, social work, information studies, education + research involving competent adults
REB -3
all faculties (except med and dentistry) involving minor or uncompetent adults (unable to consent)
REB-4
agricultural and environmental sciences involving competent adults
application process
Required human research ethics training
tri-council policy statement 2
all students, faculty, staff, investigators
application process ii
who can apply as a prinicpal investigator?
NO undergrad, profs can apply for students (if human participants is needed)
submission deadlines
minimal risk
- submitted at any time
- review ~4-6 weeks
submission deadlines
projects with greater risk +involve minors
- 1st friday of every month
- REB meets 4 weeks after that
- no board meetings in july /aug
informed consent
- explicitly obtained (written or verbal)
- voluntarily given
- can off compensation BUT must be mentioned +approved by REB
confidentiality
- identities or sensitive info can not be revealed in publication
- all data must be securely stored (paper+ ecopy)
- kept for 7 years
- specific ways of getting rid of data
confidentiality example
Poaching traps in Kibale National Park
- serious repercussions for locals who hunt for subsisdy or artisanal trade
minimize legal repercussions
