PSYCH 208 Module 1 (Ethics and Kaupapa Maori Research

Week 1 & 2

Ethics

Application of moral principles to prevent harming or wronging others, to promote the good, to be respectful, and to be fair

Ethical approaches

• Deontological

• Consequentalist

• Relational

• Indigenous

Deontological approaches

Uses rule to establish right from wrong, attributed to Immanuel Kant

Consequentialist approaches

Judges what is right by what the consequences are

Relational approaches

A decision-making model that outlines four core principles:

• Mutual respect

• Relational engagement

• Bringing knowledge back to life

• Creating environment

Indigenous approaches

Indigenous ethics resonate with the values of honour, trust, honesty, and humility; they reflect commitment to the collective and embody a respectful relationship with the land

What’s important

• Ethical thinking comes from a perspective

• Ethical thinking is not universal or singular

• Ethical approaches prioritise certain things and deprioritise certain things

• Ethical thinking is ‘alive’ - we’re not ‘there’ yet, at the end point of ethics

History of Ethics

• The Nuremburg Code (1947)

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

• The Declaration of Helsinki (1964)

• The Belmont Report (1979)

The Nuremburg Code (1947) - History

• Trial of Nazi medical professionals

• Medical experimentation on concentration camp victims

• Not legally binding but internationally recognised

The Nuremburg Code (1947) - Clauses

• Voluntary consent is essential

• Experiments should not be random or unnecessary

• Animal experimentation should precede

• Avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering

• No death or disabling injury should occur

• Risk should never exceed humanitarian importance

• Adequate facilities to prevent injury and death

• Conducted only by scientifically qualified persons

• Subjects at a liberty to end experiment

• Scientist must be prepared to terminate the experiment

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) - History

• Milestone document in the history of human rights

• UN General Assembly strive to promote respect for these rights and freedoms

The Declaration of Helsinki (1964) - History

• Most recent review and adoption in 2024

• Not legally binding in international law

• Formation of independent committees to review research protocols

• Determination of therapeutic or scientific benefit

• Removal of sexist language

• Establishment of vulnerable populations

• Requirement to keep patient informed about health

Declaration of Helsinki (2024) - Revision

Interdisciplinary nature of modern research

• Scientific integrity (zero tolerance on research misconduct)

• Vulnerability and inclusion (promote fair and responsible inclusion of vulnerable populations)

• Participant engagement (engagement with research populations before, during, and after studies)

• Public health emergencies (ethical principles fully upheld during public health emerencies)

• Bata and biobanking (informed consent for the collection, processing and storage of biological materials)

Helsinki - Vulnerable populations

• Medical resear