Do scientists need strict ethics?

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   Oztinatoposted 9 years ago

   Do scientists need strict ethics?
   
   Scientists are not subject to strict ethical codes like lawyers or doctors etc. Many new discoveries have seriously bad effects on people and the environment. Isn't it about time science and tech were subjected to much tighter professional ethical controls?

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   RTalloniposted 9 years ago

   As documentation of how scientists have falsified outcomes and proclaimed conclusions from false data comes to light in spite of media's biased leanings this question is important to examine. 
   
   It's more than what is pointed out in articles found in "The Top 10 Most Spectacularly Wrong Widely Held Scientific Theories" type posts.  It is actual misconduct in areas of stem cell research, global warming theories, and HIV data. 
   
   I've read of some people making excuses for these dishonest scientists, but I believe that they should be held accountable legally, like lawyers and doctors are supposed to be in the eyes of the law.  Dong-Pyou Han is one who was indicted.  Indictments are unusual, but they should not be when scientists make declarations based on false information. 
   
   Irregularities in data are far more common in the scientific world than most are willing to admit and the ethics controls should go beyond academic circles. They should be dealt with by the law.

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      Oztinatoposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I totally agree and wrote a hub on it. They urgently need legal accountability. Many are greedy for profits and forget about the environment and people.

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      tamarawilhiteposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The actual altering of climate data to fit the climate models has been under-reported, as well as the suppression of contrary research papers. Those scientists have more faith in models than real data - and commit unethical acts to support the models

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   tamarawilhiteposted 9 years ago

   I would not say "restrict research for fear of what it might do" or "restrict research because it could have bad effects".
   Instead, apply ethics to the research itself, such as not harming patients to get rather unimportant data or ensuring that the clinical trial patients who generate critical data are among the first to get access to the cure.
   In the case of technology, apply ethics to its application - not taking away people's freedom and self determination or killing them.

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      Oztinatoposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. It would be great if things like plastic/carbon fibres in the water could be avoided in the future. Such materials can be stopped at the source before they get into the biosphere. Scientists can no longer say "we didn't know".

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