A Small Dose of Ethics

• An Introduction to Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Toxicology

Ethics Dossier

• One vision or ethical perspective is that we have "an environment in which all living things have the best opportunity to reach and maintain their full genetic potential" by S.G. Gilbert (2005)

• "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." (Leopold, 1949).

• "It is the public that is being asked to assume the risks...the public must decide whether it wishes to continue on the present road and it can only do so when in full possession of the facts..." by Rachel Carson

• "Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world. " by Rachel Carson

• "When an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically." - Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle, Jan. 1998

Ethics Chapter

• A Small Dose of Ethics - chapter pdf

Ethics - PowerPoint presentation

• A Small Dose of Ethics - PowerPoint presentation

More Information and References

European, Asian, and international Agencies

• European Commission - European Group on Ethics of science and new technologies (EGE). (accessed: 22 January 2010). The EGE aims to coordinate actions and communications on ethics across European Commission.

• European Bioethical Research - Edinburgh EH6 8NX, Scotland, UK. (accessed: 22 January 2010).
  European Bioethical Research encourages and promotes research and discussion in bioethics amongst academics.

North American Agencies

• US Environmental Protection Agencies - Office of the Science Advisor (OSA) - Program in Human Research Ethics (PHRE). (accessed: 23 January 2010).PHRE supports "the ethical conduct and regulatory compliance of human subjects research (HSR) conducted, supported, or regulated by EPA."

• US Environmental Protection Agencies - EPA Science Advisory Board Staff - Ethics for Advisory Committee Members. (accessed: 23 January 2010). Provides ethical guidelines for EPA committee members.

• US Department of Health & Human Services - Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). (accessed: 23 January 2010). OHRP "provides leadership in the protection of the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of subjects involved in research".

• US National Institute of Health - Bioethics Resources on the Web. (accessed: 23 January 2010). Provides a broad range of resources related to ethics.

Non-Government Organizations

• Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International). (accessed: 23 January 2010). AAALAC is a "private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs."

• American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). (accessed: 24 August 2009).Applies to all ABIH-certified professionals, applicants, and examinees. ACGIH®, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and AIHA's Academy of Industrial Hygiene (AIH).

• Society of Toxicology. Code of Ethics. (accessed: 24 August 2009). Example of professional code of ethics.

References

• Carson, Rachel (1994). Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 368 pages.

• Colborn, T., Dumanoski, D., and Meyers, J.P. (1996). Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival? A Scientific Detective Story. Dutton Adult, 306 pages.

• Gilbert, S. G. (20005) Ethical, legal, and social issues: our children's future. Neurotoxicology, Vol 26/4 pp 521-530. (doi 10.1016/j.neuro.2004.12.006).

• Earth Charter. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. or http://earthcharterinaction.org/, Rio de Janeiro 1997.

• Gilbert, S.G. and Eaton, D.L.. Ethical, Legal, Social, and Professional Issues in Toxicology. In: General and Applied Toxicology. Third edition ed: by Bryan Ballantyne, Dr Timothy C. Marrs, Tore Syversen. Wiley, 2009

• Leopold, A.: A Sand County Almanac, 1949.

• Maurissen, J. P., S. G. Gilbert, M. Sander, T. L. Beauchamp, S. Johnson, B. A. Schwetz, M. Goozner & C. S. Barrow: Workshop proceedings: managing conflict of interest in science. A little consensus and a lot of controversy. Toxicol Sci 2005, 87, 11-4.