Social Responsibility, Safety and Risk, Sharing of Benefits

Highest attainable standard of health

The concept that every individual has the right to enjoy the highest level of physical and mental health achievable, as recognized by international human rights standards.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A landmark document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, which affirms the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled.

Responsibility

The awareness and acknowledgment of one's obligations to make appropriate decisions and take actions towards various entities, such as external authorities, oneself, respected others, and accepted principles and rules.

Spontaneously obtained responsibility

Responsibilities that arise naturally from one's acquired status or commitments, such as the responsibility of parents towards their children.

Consciously accepted responsibility

Responsibilities that are consciously embraced by individuals based on their roles or commitments, such as the responsibility of professionals or self-committed individuals.

Legal responsibility

Responsibilities that are defined and enforced by laws or legal frameworks, establishing the obligations of individuals, groups, or institutions.

Duty

A moral or legal obligation that individuals, groups, or institutions are expected to fulfill.

Caroline Whitbeck

A scholar who argues that individuals have a duty to do what is right based on their relationships with others or their possession of special knowledge that can be of help.

Dual nature of responsibility

The concept that responsibility can be understood in two ways

Accountability

The aspect of responsibility that entails being able to provide justification or explanation for one's actions and decisions.

Personal and universal duty

The aspect of responsibility that involves acting in a manner that considers the well-being and interests of all individuals, not just oneself.

Autonomy

The capacity for individuals to make independent choices and decisions, which is closely linked to the concept of responsibility.

Duties, obligations, and responsibilities

Obligations and responsibilities that can be acquired by individuals, groups, or institutions through various means, such as legal frameworks, agreements, or social roles.

Social responsibility

The duty or responsibility of individuals or institutions to contribute to the well-being and welfare of society as a whole.

Governments' duty

The primary responsibility of governments to protect the rights of their citizens and create an environment that supports the promotion of fundamental rights.

Industries' duty

The responsibility of industries to act in ways that benefit society and contribute positively to the well-being of individuals and communities.

Access to essential drugs and health services

The challenge of ensuring that all individuals have equitable access to necessary medications and healthcare services, particularly in regions with limited resources.

Poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic

The connection between poverty and the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic factors on public health.

Standard of care in international health research

The need to establish ethical frameworks and local expertise to ensure that international health research conducted in developing countries does not exploit vulnerable populations.

Protection of vulnerable populations

The special attention and safeguards required to ensure the rights and well-being of vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples, women, children, and persons with disabilities.

Research prioritization

The need to allocate global health research funding in a fair and equitable manner, addressing the imbalance that currently favors the needs of wealthier populations.

Providing healthcare services across national boundaries

The significant migration of healthcare workers from developing to developed countries and its implications for both the source and destination countries.

Organ transplantation and medical tourism

The ethical concerns surrounding the transplantation of organs from economically disadvantaged individuals to wealthier individuals, often facilitated by medical tourism.

Sharing of benefits

The unequal distribution of scientific advancements and the importance of ensuring fair access and equitable sharing of benefits among countries, regions, social groups, and genders.

Structural asymmetries

Imbalances in power, resources, and opportunities among countries, regions, and social groups that contribute to the unequal distribution of benefits.

Principles of global justice

The ethical foundations that should guide scientific endeavors, emphasizing fairness, equity, and the well-being of all individuals and communities.

Benefit-sharing agreements

Agreements aimed at ensuring that all parties involved in research or the use of genetic resources receive a fair share of the benefits derived from such activities.

Biopiracy

The unauthorized and unfair use of genetic resources without proper permission or without sharing the benefits with the communities or countries of origin.

Duty to protect the safety and well-being of the public

The primary responsibility of engineers to design and produce products, structures, and processes that prioritize the safety of the public.

Safety

The state of being free from damage, injury, or risk.

Risk

The possibility of suffering harm or loss.

Ensuring a safe design

The steps and considerations that engineers should follow to develop designs that comply with applicable laws, meet accepted engineering practices, and minimize potential risks.

Designing for safety

The systematic approach of defining the problem, generating solutions, analyzing their pros and cons, testing the solutions, and selecting and implementing the best design solution.

Risk-benefit analysis

The assessment of the potential risks and benefits associated with a particular action or decision, considering the equitable distribution of risks and benefits among different individuals or groups.

Economic justice

The principle that advocates for fairness and equality in economic opportunities, benefits, and outcomes.

Confidentiality and proprietary information

The ethical obligation of engineers to maintain the confidentiality of their employer or client's proprietary information, including test results, designs, and business strategies.

Conflict of interest

A situation in which an individual's personal or financial interests could compromise their ability to fulfill their professional obligations objectively and faithfully.

Competitive bidding

The practice of submitting bids for projects or contracts, which has been prohibited in engineering due to concerns about undermining safety and public welfare.

Whistle-blowing

The act of reporting unethical or illegal behavior by an employer or supervisor to higher management or the public, typically as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.

Diffusion of responsibility

The phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to take action in an emergency when there are passive bystanders present, leading to a reduced sense of personal responsibility.

Bystander effect

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help in an emergency situation when others are present, assuming that someone else will take action.

World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) Code of Ethics

A code of ethics established by the WFEO that outlines the responsibilities of engineers, including demonstrating integrity, practicing competently, exercising leadership, and protecting the environment and community.

Demonstrating integrity

The ethical principle of refraining from fraudulent, corrupt, or criminal practices and conducting oneself objectively, truthfully, and fairly towards clients, colleagues, and others.

Practicing competently

The obligation of engineers to practice in a careful, diligent, and competent manner within their areas of expertise, adhering to accepted engineering practices, standards, and codes.

Exercising leadership

The responsibility of engineers to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, enhance the quality of life in society, and foster public understanding of technical issues and the role of engineering.

Protecting the natural and built environment

The duty of engineers to create and implement engineering solutions for a sustainable future, considering the economic, societal, and environmental consequences of their actions or projects.

Mindfulness of consequences

The awareness among engineers about the potential impacts of their actions or projects on the health, safety, and well-being of the community and the environment.

Contribution to the profession

The commitment of engineers to contribute to the body of knowledge within their practice and to the overall development and improvement of the engineering profession.

Foster public understanding

The effort made by engineers to promote public awareness and comprehension of technical issues, helping individuals and communities make informed decisions.

Health, safety, and well-being

The core aspects that engineers should prioritize in their work, seeking to protect and enhance the health, safety, and overall well-being of the public and the environment.