Ethical Issues Research Articles

A Review on Balenciaga Market Campaign Analysis

The thesis focuses on the market campaign analysis of Balenciaga. With the brand's rapid ascent in the luxury market, it is essential to understand the reasons behind Balenciaga's success in such a short period. One significant factor contributing to this success is Balenciaga's strategic use of social media and innovative product launches. The brand frequently unveils new products on social media platforms, creating a strong and lasting impression on customers. This strategy not only enhances brand visibility but also attracts a substantial number of consumers, driving sales and market presence. However, Balenciaga has faced several ethical issues in recent years, which have drawn public scrutiny. These controversies highlight the need for the brand to address and resolve these ethical concerns to maintain its reputation and consumer trust. Despite these challenges, Balenciaga's potential to continue leading the luxury market remains strong. By appropriately handling ethical issues and maintaining its innovative marketing strategies, Balenciaga can sustain its growth and reinforce its position as a dominant player in the luxury fashion industry.

Investigation of the ethical and legal issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are highly complex and ethically charged medical practices that challenge societal norms and legal frameworks worldwide. This research investigates the multifaceted ethical and legal dilemmas surrounding these end-of-life options. It examines the core ethical arguments for and against euthanasia and assisted suicide, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The analysis explores different legal approaches to these practices globally, comparing permissive, restrictive, and prohibitive regimes. It delves into the legal complexities of informed consent, competency, vulnerability, and the potential for abuse. Furthermore, the research examines the role of palliative care and the impact of social, cultural, and religious factors on the debate. This investigation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ethical and legal landscape of euthanasia and assisted suicide, contributing to informed policy-making and ethical medical practice. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are topics that spark intense ethical, legal, and social debate. Both are related to the right to die, but there are fundamental differences between them.

Inteligentna rewolucja w medycynie - zastosowanie sztucznej inteligencji (AI) w medycynie: przegląd, korzyści i wyzwania

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnostics by offering new opportunities for accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility in healthcare. This article examines the benefits of implementing AI in diagnostics, such as enhanced diagnostic precision, faster clinical decision-making, cost reduction, and increased access to healthcare. It also discusses the challenges associated with AI implementation, including ethical, legal, and technical issues. The future of AI in medicine may bring further technological advancements and personalized therapy, but it also requires addressing regulatory and ethical concerns.

Twirl Store: pioneering sustainable textile practices by closing the loop

Learning outcomes After completion of the case study, the students will be able to make strategic decisions for social entrepreneurship and carry out a sustainability and social impact analysis, assess the benefits of a circular economy-based retail model and investigate ways to preserve these benefits and recognize the ethical and sustainable issues facing the fast fashion sector and how social enterprises are addressing them. Case overview/synopsis The culture of fast fashion had proven to be dangerous for the environment as it had promoted a culture of consumerism and materialism. It had also increased the landfills in different countries. The need of the hour was to upcycle used and unwanted clothes into new innovative items. This idea had been practically implemented by Mrs Sujata Chatterjee of the Twirl Store, the protagonist of this case study. Chatterjee was a social entrepreneur who recognized the environmental and social problems caused by rapid fashion and abandoned apparel in landfills. She launched the Twirl Store, a social enterprise with the mission of advancing circular economy and sustainability practices in the textile sector. Rural women were economically and culturally empowered by the enterprise’s upcycling of used clothing using their abilities, and a sustainable source of income was created. Finding abandoned clothing, sorting and processing it effectively and locating clients who share her commitment to sustainability were difficult tasks for Chatterjee. Despite the difficulties, the Twirl Store served as an example of how circular economy concepts, cultural sustainability and women’s empowerment might be combined, highlighting the importance of social entrepreneurship in addressing global concerns and fostering positive social effects and economic impact. Complexity academic level This case study is applicable for undergraduate as well as post graduate students of management studies. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Religious Approaches to Bioethical Reasoning: Bridging Values and Ethics

Religious traditions exert a profound influence on bioethical reasoning, shaping how different communities approach complex ethical issues like end-of-life care, genetic manipulation, and medical interventions. This study investigates the diverse methodologies employed by various religions, focusing on how scriptural interpretation and ethical principles inform their bioethical frameworks. By conducting a comparative analysis across major world religions, the research highlights both the distinct and shared approaches these traditions take toward navigating bioethical dilemmas. Case studies and contemporary examples are examined to illustrate how religious moral reasoning influences decision-making in areas such as ventilator use, feeding tubes, and genetic interventions. The study shows that although religious traditions offer a strong basis for ethical reasoning, their values frequently clash with secular perspectives, making consensus difficult in multicultural societies. Resolving these conflicts is vital for cultivating ethical harmony and encouraging cross-cultural dialogue.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Cybercrime Investigation: Challenges and Future Directions

Computer and social networking whereby criminals use the Internet to propagate criminal activities are some of the major challenges faced by existing policing strategies. Modern-day crimes include hacking into computer systems and stealing money from consumers, ransomware, identity theft cases, and hacking, all of which use the dark web and encryption. In this regard, artificial intelligence (AI) is the most efficient solution for improving the manner of cybercrime investigation. This paper also analyses how AI technologies such as machine learning natural language processing, and deep learning can be incorporated in cybercrime investigations and how they can assist in dealing with difficulties concerning data volume, complexity, and encryption. The advantages of utilizing AI are numerous from pattern recognition to repetitive tasks cutting down the investigation time. However, the paper recognizes that applying AI in business brings legal, technical, and ethical concerns including; privacy, bias, and legal constrictions. This research analyses existing legal frameworks of India, the EU, and the United States while looking at how it would be possible to incorporate AI into cybercrime investigations without violating the rights of a citizen. Further, it reveals infringement and possible bias, as well as unlawful use for violations, and recounts drawbacks related to the lack of resources and expertise that police departments confront. In the final section of the paper, directions for future research focusing on the use of AI in the fight against cybercrime are given in addition to that, the practice of cooperation with different countries, legal regulation of such activities, protection of ethical issues, and training of personnel are described. They are useful in making sure that the levels of artificial intelligence benefits are achieved fully without compromising security and the basic rights of an individual

Ethical Issues in Memory Modification Technology: A Scoping Review.

Memory modification technology (MMT) refers to the use of neurotechnologies to intervene in memories. Many scholars have reflected on the ethical issues in MMT, but a comprehensive review of this topic has not been seen. This article presents the first scoping review study of ethical issues in MMT using a bibliometric and systematic approach. After thorough examination, 133 records of key literature are included in this scoping review. Six core ethical themes are extracted: (1) self, identity, and authenticity; (2) autonomy and informed consent; (3) welfare and happiness; (4) safety and risks; (5) responsibility and obligation; (6) social and legal justice. More detailed analyses are conducted on the moral stances and reasons held by different scholars concerning these ethical themes. As can be seen, current debates exhibit certain shortcomings, including ambiguous ethical concepts and a restricted scope of analysis. Therefore, we call for deeper reflections on the philosophical foundations, more precise definitions of ethical terms, and more comprehensive examinations of neurotechnological applications, in order to better address the ethical challenges in the future.

Ethical constraints and dilemmas in the provision of in-vitro fertilization treatment in Ghana: from the perspectives of experts

BackgroundInfertility presents both medical and public health challenges, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) emerging as a prominent solution, particularly when other alternatives are exhausted. However, IVF treatment raises significant ethical questions that have been under explored in the Ghanaian context. This study aimed to explore ethical constraints and dilemmas in the provision of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in Ghana.MethodsA descriptive phenomenological qualitative design was employed. Purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit 12 participants including ART experts from three in vitro fertilization (IVF) centres, ethicists and a legal practitioner. In-depth face-to-face interviews guided by an open-ended interview guide were conducted. Thematic analysis of the interviews was performed to identify major themes.ResultsProviding IVF treatment in Ghana raises several ethical issues, including inequitable access due to high costs and limited availability, which favour wealthier individuals and leave marginalized populations with fewer options. There are significant ethical considerations in balancing the potential benefits of successful IVF treatment outcomes against the health risks and emotional tolls on patients. Decisions about the fate of surplus embryos present moral dilemmas, including whether to preserve, donate, or discard them. Differing personal beliefs about the moral status of the embryo further complicate the ethical landscape. Ensuring informed consent is challenging due to the complex medical, ethical, and emotional implications of IVF treatment, potentially leading to compromised consent. Additionally, there are ongoing risks of breaches in confidentiality, given the sensitive nature of reproductive health data and the importance of protecting patient privacy.ConclusionThis study revealed that several ethical dilemmas confront both healthcare providers and couples in the process of IVF. There is an urgent need for the development of clear and uniform regulations to govern the practice of IVF treatment in Ghana, with further attention given to mitigating financial barriers and enhancing support systems for couples considering IVF treatment.

A Rubik’s Cube-Inspired Pedagogical Tool for Teaching and Learning Engineering Ethics

To facilitate engineering students’ understanding of engineering ethics and support instructors in developing course content, this study introduces an innovative educational tool drawing inspiration from the Rubik’s Cube metaphor. This Engineering Ethics Knowledge Rubik’s Cube (EEKRC) integrates six key aspects—ethical theories, codes of ethics, ethical issues, engineering disciplines, stakeholders, and life cycle—identified through an analysis of engineering ethics textbooks and courses across the United States, Singapore, and China. This analysis underpins the selection of the six aspects, reflecting the shared and unique elements of engineering ethics education in these regions. In an engineering ethics course, the EEKRC serves multiple functions: it provides visual support for grasping engineering ethics concepts, acts as a pedagogical guide for both experienced and inexperienced educators in course design, offers a complementary assessment method for evaluating students learning outcomes, and assists as a reference for students engaging in ethical analysis.

Diagnosing a genetic disease in a donor-conceived child: case report and discussion of the ethical, legal, and practical issues.

We describe the unexpected challenges pediatricians may experience when children conceived with assisted reproduction are diagnosed with a rare genetic condition. A local case series triggered a dialogue between many stakeholders with varied expertise. Indeed, diagnosing a genetic disease in a child conceived by embryo, egg, or sperm donation is becoming more common now that genetic testing and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are readily accessible. However, how and whether to share that information with other stakeholders in the gamete donation process has not been fully explored, and the clinical responsibilities of the treating clinician remain ill-defined. This work centers on a patient with a confirmed diagnosis of X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Ultimately, we found the same AVPR2 mutation in two children from two families conceived by egg donation. It led to multigenerational cascade diagnoses in the family of the shared, anonymous egg donor. First, we review current genetic testing practices in gamete donation and third-party reproduction. Then, we provide an overview of relevant genomic, ethical, legal, and psychosocial considerations for sharing relevant genomic information. Finally, and to maximize the best interests of genetic relatives, we discuss how a pediatrician can play a role in the early disclosure of relevant clinical information to all stakeholders in the gamete donation process, starting with the fertility clinic. While these clinical cases are cast in a Canadian context, we submit that its important lessons generally apply to medical systems of nearly all developed countries, broadly defined.

Give Credit Where It’s Due: The Ethical Imperatives of Authorship Attribution in Collaborative Research

This article proposes practical steps for those new to collaborative research or those seeking to improve the nature of collaborative research partnerships. Questioning academia’s exaltation of publications and authorship as coveted assets, the authors critically analyze the often complex, contentious, and ambiguous environment of collaborative research and negotiating authorship. With respect to academic publishing and ethics of authorship, this article grapples with two critical questions: (1) What factors create ethical dilemmas in authorship in academia? (2) How can academics and researchers better navigate the complexities of collaborative research to sustain ethical authorship practices? A seven-phase process model is proposed to guide the collaborative research process to mitigate ambiguities that reside in the black box. The seven phases encompass problem settings and pre-negotiations, direction setting: action planning, social capital, re-negotiations, equity and inclusivity, implementation- the submission-revision cycle, and reflexivity. This theoretical analysis aims to offer a useful resource to promote enhanced collaborative practices, and the authors take an explicit advocacy and visionary perspective to promote transparency, accountability, and reciprocal trust, to shatter overarching issues such as oppressive, deceitful, and exploitative norms in academic authorship practices.

Book review: ethics of artificial intelligence.

The book Ethics of Artificial Intelligence offers a solid exploration ofarguments and real-world examples that enrich the ongoing debate surrounding AI ethics. With 12 insightful chapters, the book delves into pressing ethical issues, such as the enhancement of human abilities, the nature of consciousness, and questions of responsibility and accountability in various contexts where AI technology is used. This work connects technology ethics with broader philosophical discussions and provides valuable perspectives on the societal implications of AI. Engaging and accessible, it can serve as an essential resource for scholars, technology-enthusiasts, policymakers, and anyone with an interest in thetransformative potential of AI and its ethical dimensions.

When end of treatment situations challenge patient-centered care: a discussion paper proposing new theoretical insights.

According to the Institute of Medicine patient-centered medicine is one of the six crucial dimensions of health care quality. Although the patient-centered care model is widely recognized for its ethical underpinnings and effectiveness, its practical implementation still raises challenges, especially in end-of-treatment situations. This discussion paper offers an overview of the challenges facing the physician-patient relationship in end-of-treatment situations. We developed three clinical vignettes and made some theoretical considerations about ethical issues related to the decision-making process leading to the end of treatment. We identified two main challenges that end-of-treatment situations pose to patient-centered care: (1) when the patient's autonomy challenges the best clinical treatment; and (2) when the proposed treatment (discontinuation of treatment) challenges the patient's preferences. Patient-centered care supports personalized decision-making, in which the physician's approach varies according to the patient's situation and individuality. The idea of beneficence may change during care, because of acceptance of the patient's principles or a change in the primary goal of care.

Artificial Intelligence and Admissions to Health Professions Educational Programs: A Scoping Review.

The use of large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to prepare health professions admissions applications is increasing. These tools can improve writing significantly but raise ethical concerns about application authenticity. This scoping review explored the literature on use of AI by applicants applying to health professions programs and by admission reviewers. Following Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, a search was conducted in multiple databases, which identified 1706 citations. After screening, 18 articles were included. Articles included in the review focused on the (1) use of AI to screen applicants or predict ranking and interview invitations, (2) ethical implications of AI-generated personal statements, (3) potential to detect AI-generated applications, and (4) use of AI to write or analyze letters of reference. AI tools can enhance the efficiency of the admissions review process, but clear guidelines are required to address ethical issues. Further research is needed, particularly in nursing education.

Emotional Labor in Dementia Research.

The concept of emotional labor refers to the regulation and management of emotions within the workplace. This labor may involve a dissonance between the emotions that are internally felt and the emotions that can be externally expressed. The concept of emotional labor can be applied to the emotional management that occurs during research often when directly interacting with research participants. These emotions can have a positive role in building rapport and enabling the researcher to understand the participant's world. But equally, it can lead to emotional strain and potentially have a negative impact on researcher well-being. In this paper, we apply the concept of emotional labor to dementia research. While there has been attention paid to ethical issues in dementia research, this has often focused on the impact on the participant and not the researcher. Within this paper, we first draw on the literature to provide an overview of the role of emotional labor in the research context. Within the literature, we identify nine research scenarios where emotional labor might occur within dementia research. We then present three case studies illuminating our experiences of emotional labor within dementia research. These case studies provide illustrative examples of some of the research scenarios identified in the literature. To synthesize the learning from the literature and our case studies, we propose peer-critiqued recommendations for managing emotional labor in dementia research. We conclude by considering the implications for other health researchers.

Generative Artificial Intelligence and Legal Frameworks: Identifying Challenges and Proposing Regulatory Reforms

This research paper seeks to understand the deficit arising from the generative AI and its potential in redefying various sectors and suggesting modification on the current laws. Generative AI systems can generate distinctive content which could be used in text, images, or music, among others, by training from the available data. It highlights how generative AI influences the legal profession in terms of work like contract writing, as well as how newer language models like GPT-4 and chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini are evolving. Thus, while generative AI has numerous opportunities, it also raises concerns about ethical issues, authorship and ownership, privacy, and abuses, such as the propagation of deepfakes and fake news. This study focuses attention on the importance of strengthening the legal frameworks to answer the ethical issues and challenges linked to generative AI, such as deepfakes, piracy of contents, discriminative impact, or naked breaches of privacy. It calls for proper and sensitive use of generative AI through regulation, openness, and commonly agreed global guidelines. This paper emphasizes that innovations need to be balanced by a set of effective regulations to unleash the potential of generative AI and minimize potential threats.

Assessing the knowledge, attitude and perception of Extended Reality (XR) technology in Pakistan's Healthcare community in an era of Artificial Intelligence.

The Extended Reality (XR) technology was established by combining elements of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, offering users the advantage of working in a virtual environment. The study aimed to evaluate medical professionals' and students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding using XR technology in Pakistan's healthcare system and identify its benefits, drawbacks, and implications for the system's future. A cross-sectional study was executed by circulating a self-structured online questionnaire among the Medical Community across Major Cities of Pakistan using various social media platforms as available sampling. The sample size was calculated to be 385 using RAOSOFT. Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.74. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) conducted on the dataset was validated using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity. The KMO value of 0.752 indicates adequate sampling, and Bartlett's Test was significant (χ2 (435) = 2809.772, p < 0.001), confirming the suitability of the data for factor analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-25, and data description was done as frequency and percentage. Pearson correlation and regression analysis kept p-value < 0.05% significant. Approximately 54.8% of 406 participants conveyed their familiarity with XR technologies. The majority of participants (83.8%) believed that using XR technology effectively enhanced medical education and patient care in Pakistan. Regarding clinical outcomes, 70.8% believed XR improved the efficiency of procedures and 52.8% agreed XR would lead to more device-dependent systems and eradicating human error (32.4%). Major barriers to XR integration included ethical and privacy issues (63.9%), lack of technological advancements in Pakistan (70%), and lack of ample knowledge and training of XR among health care professionals (45.8%). Hypothesis testing revealed a low positive but significant correlation between the use of AI-based healthcare systems and the increasing speed and accuracy of procedures (r = 0.342, p < 0.001), supporting Hypothesis 1. Similarly, a very low positive yet significant correlation was observed between the augmentation of diagnostic and surgical procedures and addressing data security and ethical issues for implementing XR (r = 0.298, p < 0.001), supporting Hypothesis 2. Lastly, a correlation between the mean Attitude (MA) score and the mean Perception (MP) score was found to be moderately positive and significant (r = 0.356, p < 0.001). Hence, the hypothesis 3 was supported. XR technology has the potential to enhance medical education and patient care in Pakistan, but its adoption faces significant challenges, including ethical concerns, technological gaps, and inadequate training. The study's findings highlight the need to address these issues to maximize the benefits of XR in healthcare.

Fecal microbiota transplantation: a step into the past or the future? A review

New data on the association of intestinal microbiome changes with some serious diseases raised the question of the role of the bacteria living in the intestine in maintaining human health. One way to study the composition and function of the microbiome and adjust it is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which refers to the transfer of the donor's intestinal microbiota into the recipient's body to modify species diversity. Currently, FMT is included in the standards of care for relapsed and refractory types of clostridial infection in many countries. Its possible effect on the course of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and some neurological and other diseases is being studied. Fecal biomaterial storage banks have been established in Europe, Asia, and the USA to facilitate donor selection, storage and delivery of the biomaterial to the recipient and simplify the control of the procedure, safety and adverse events. In Australia, a medicinal product is approved, which includes feces of specially examined and prepared donors. Despite many unresolved technological, legal and ethical issues, FMT has already been established as a promising potential treatment for many diseases.

Current Applications of the Three-Dimensional Printing Technology in Neurosurgery: A Review.

In the recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has emerged as a transformative tool, particularly in health care, offering unprecedented possibilities in neurosurgery. This review explores the diverse applications of 3D printing in neurosurgery, assessing its impact on precision, customization, surgical planning, and education. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, identifying 84 relevant articles. These were categorized into spine applications, neurovascular applications, neuro-oncology applications, neuroendoscopy applications, cranioplasty applications, and modulation/stimulation applications. 3D printing applications in spine surgery showcased advancements in guide devices, prosthetics, and neurosurgical planning, with patient-specific models enhancing precision and minimizing complications. Neurovascular applications demonstrated the utility of 3D-printed guide devices in intracranial hemorrhage and enhanced surgical planning for cerebrovascular diseases. Neuro-oncology applications highlighted the role of 3D printing in guide devices for tumor surgery and improved surgical planning through realistic models. Neuroendoscopy applications emphasized the benefits of 3D-printed guide devices, anatomical models, and educational tools. Cranioplasty applications showed promising outcomes in patient-specific implants, addressing biomechanical considerations. The integration of 3D printing into neurosurgery has significantly advanced precision, customization, and surgical planning. Challenges include standardization, material considerations, and ethical issues. Future directions involve integrating artificial intelligence, multimodal imaging fusion, biofabrication, and global collaboration. 3D printing has revolutionized neurosurgery, offering tailored solutions, enhanced surgical planning, and invaluable educational tools. Addressing challenges and exploring future innovations will further solidify the transformative impact of 3D printing in neurosurgical care. This review serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers navigating the dynamic landscape of 3D printing in neurosurgery.

AI and memes: Across the boundaries

Memes have become one of the most popular cultures encapsulated by digital artifacts across digital spaces of all kinds. Users can create memes by themselves but can also use online services or tools. Among these, AI tools are popularly used because they can quickly generate creative memes by exploring vast stores of preexisting resources. Depending on the configurations of their algorithms and storehouses of resources, different AI meme generators can create different memes with the same prompt; further, the same generator can create different memes at different times with the same prompt. In addition, AI-generated memes may include controversial content through images and captions or other components, unanticipated by the writer of the prompt. In this study, we will examine several AI meme generators by creating memes using identical prompts and a series of prompts and compare the outputs, with a focus on cross-world ethical issues through the theoretical lens of information domains (Burnett, 2015; Burnett &amp; Burnett, 2019). The results will provide insights into learning, meme generation, and ethical issues related to the use of AI tools.