Ethical Problems Research Articles

A plea for modelling in ethics

We present an argument about the methodology of ethics, broadly conceived, drawing on recent research on modelling in the philosophy of science. More specifically, we argue that normative ethics should adopt the methodology of modelling. We make our case in two parts. First, despite the perhaps unfamiliar terminology, modelling already happens in ethics. We identify it, and argue that its practice could be improved by recognising that it is modelling and by adopting some methodological lessons from philosophy of science. Second, modelling should be adopted more widely within normative ethics, because it fits well with various methodological ends we shall identify. Models can be used to investigate ethical questions in a manner that is systematic but relatively free of foundational theoretical commitments in first-order ethics. Models are more local, and less ambitious, than theories. They can be used to break deadlocks, by focusing attention on the particularities of a sub-domain and by providing a common tool–the surrogate model system–which each side can use to make their principles precise, illustrate the implications of their view, and identify sources of disagreement or points of agreement. We are pluralists about method, so this is not a call to abandon other philosophical methods. It is simply a plea for modelling, motivated by the method’s independent benefits and its fruitfulness in resolving some persistent methodological problems in ethics.

Critique of labourfication and solutionism in (teacher) education – a defence of teacher educators’ poetic freedom to act as public intellectuals

ABSTRACT This psychoanalytically and philosophically informed article sets its focus on one of the emerging challenges that comes with the notion of labourfication and solutionism when it frames teacher education. Teacher educators’ agency, including their poetic freedom to think critically and act as public intellectuals, has become limited by neoliberal labour policy and by the increased instrumentalization of and solutionism linked to teacher educational tasks. Among the main tasks for teacher educators is socialising student teachers to “fit in” and to “be interpellated” by the socio-symbolic neoliberal reality and to provide them with functional, useful skills and qualifications (in terms of work readiness) that can make them desirable objects for and within this reality. At the same time, the educationalization of socio-economic and moral problems demands that teacher education solve problems that can prevent “failure” with the labour-oriented task(s) they are given. This article argues that teacher educators must reclaim agency by refusing to act in ways that are targeted to satisfy the Big neoliberal Other’s desire for labourfication and solutionism in teacher education.

Does education increase ethical sensitivity a semi-experimental study

Ethics education plays a crucial role in enhancing the ethical sensitivity of nursing students. This study aimed to assess the impact of an ethics course on the ethical sensitivity levels of nursing students. In this study, one-group pretest-posttest semi-experimental design method is used. The mean total score of the Ethics Sensitivity Scale for Nursing Students before education was determined as 4.93 (neutral), while the mean score increased to 5.62 (significant) after education. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-education and post-education mean scores of students who reported encountering ethical problems during clinical practice. The findings underscore the importance of ethics education in fostering the ethical sensitivity and awareness of nursing students. They also highlight the need for high-quality ethics education that integrates theoretical knowledge with engaging content, real-life case studies, and practical applications to enhance students’ learning experiences.

Ethical Considerations in Complications of Surgical Procedures.

Surgical procedures carry certain risks of complications, which need to be considered and discussed when any procedure is suggested to a patient. In this article, some ethical problems will be discussed concerning the communication of problems after they have occurred. Some clinical case studies will serve to clarify the need for having standards of ethical behavior, even in difficult situations. Further information will be given from experience gained from a medicolegal commission for malpractice complaints.

Moral hazard and debt maturity

We present a model of the maturity of a bank’s uninsured debt. The bank borrows to invest in a long-term asset with endogenous and nonverifiable risk. This moral hazard problem leads to excessive risk-taking. Short-term debt may have a disciplining effect on risk-taking, but it may lead to overborrowing and/or inefficient liquidation. We characterize the conditions under which short- and long-term debt are feasible, and show circumstances where only short-term debt is feasible and where short-term debt dominates long-term debt when both are feasible. The results are consistent with some features of the period preceding the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.

“LET’S TALK TECH” IN THE ALGORITHMIC AGE: ENGAGING PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN TECHNOLOGY USE DECISIONS

Abstract The availability of technologies to support dementia care is outpacing our understanding of how to help families navigate use decisions and align with the values and preferences of the person living with dementia. This is an ethical problem made urgent by efforts to incorporate data from the home into AI healthcare applications where transparent disclosures are still aspirational. The misperception that people living with mild-to-moderate dementia cannot or do not want to be involved in decision making about their care is widespread, yet failure to enable decision making participation where possible reflects ageism and ableism. An added barrier to involvement in decision making about digital technologies is communication about the technologies themselves. Findings will be presented from a mixed-methods study of the first of its kind tool to facilitate empowered, shared decision making by people living with dementia and care partners about technologies that use a range of data (e.g., audio, visual, location) and include companion robots. Together with primary care partners, twenty-nine participants living with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) learned about, discussed, and documented their preferences for each of four categories of technologies through the Let’s Talk Tech intervention. Individual preferences were not consistent across technologies and varied considerably, supporting the need for personalized decision making. Most participants living with mild AD reported that they wanted (vs. unsure or do not want) each of five control-enhancing options, including being informed if a technology is used to monitor them and to have the ability to pause monitoring for privacy.

Nations, corrective justice and state creation: How normative are normative remedial theories of secession?

AbstractProponents of remedial secession theory (henceforth RST) claim that a group obtains the right to secede when it is wronged by the state, given that other preconditions – which can be more or less restrictive, depending on the theory's author – are also fulfilled. However, in doing so, they face multiple moral challenges and problems. Here, we identify five major problems with their normative claims while paying particular attention to the ethical and practical implications of the “implementation” and the “appropriateness” problem. With the help of Pollock's method for evaluating moral theories, we conclude that the critical problems encountered by RST remain unresolved due to the untenability of its fundamental premise: that secession is an instrument suitable for achieving corrective justice.

Slavery & Islam

The Euro-American Enlightenment has reformed global moral norms. This reform has provoked humanity to rethink many issues that had been normalized but were nevertheless still moral problems (Hallaq 2019). This notion applies to many civilizational aspects, but especially the issue of slavery. Some might question why such an immoral institution was seemingly casually practiced in the past without significant opposition. Not only in a particular society, but it seems that the majority—without wishing to generalize—of societies historically accepted slavery as a normal practice. This is the question that provokes Jonathan Brown to reassess the issue of slavery. In particular, this inquiry was provoked following the declaration in 2014 by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant / the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIL/ISIS) that the reintroduction of concubinage was legitimate. Following this move, for some thetopic of slavery and concubinage came to be identified as a fundamental Islamic teaching.

Survey on the current practice of research ethics committees in the Czech academic environment: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundThe primary objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive questionnaire survey on the practices of research ethics committees reviewing academic research projects in Czechia. The study aims to provide an unbiased and objective assessment of the current practices of research ethics committees, namely to obtain the missing data on their functioning in the context of academic research, to identify difficulties and shortages that threaten the responsible functioning of research ethics committees in the country and to investigate the implementation of Additional Protocol on Biomedical Research CETS No. 195 in their practice. Such research has never been conducted in Czechia.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study, in which the online survey with closed and open-ended questions was chosen to explore the situation regarding ethics assessment of research involving human participants. We developed a questionnaire containing 18 questions concerning several aspects of the functioning of research ethics committees. The questionnaire was in Czech language and was administered through the Qualtrics platform anonymously. The target group of 61 research ethics committees at research institutions was approached by emails and we received 43 completely filled questionnaires, i.e., response rate of 67%.ResultsWe obtained valuable data on the functioning of research ethics committees in Czechia in three main domains: the mandate and composition of the committee; the scope of its agenda; the process of evaluation including the voting procedure. In addition, the final set of open-ended questions provided an in-depth look at the problems faced by research ethics committees in Czechia. From the results is evident that the responsible assessment of the ethics of research involving human subjects is still not satisfactorily addressed and established for routine practice in the country.ConclusionsThe outcomes of our study revealed that the main problem of research ethics in Czechia is the lack of national legislation on research ethics governance. To address this problem, the country requires a legislative framework accompanied by supportive measures aimed at educating, guiding and advising research ethics committees, especially in the Czech academic environment.Trial registration numberNot applicable.

Биополитика и формирование правового механизма регулирования отношений в сфере генной терапии и процедуры редактирования генома человека: социально-этические и теоретико-правовые проблемы

The article examines the socio-ethical and legal vectors of the formation of legal regulation tools arising in connection with the use of gene therapy drugs and the procedure of experimental editing of the human genome. One of the most important factors in the development of the legal mechanism of regulation in the field of genetic technologies is associated not only with the need to protect the constitutional human rights to life, health, safety, privacy, personal and family secrets, but also with the presence of potential threats to society as a whole. Much attention is paid in the article to the relationship between the content of socio-ethical problems and the structure of the legal paradigm in the field of biopolitics, which is gradually forming in the Russian Federation, the USA and European countries. The explication of such a relationship, the definition of vectors for the development of this paradigm requires consideration of both the method of genetic modification of DNA and the means of gene therapy, as well as social and ethical problems arising after the use of gene technologies. The effect of CRISPR technology is based on the use of genetic mechanisms, its application can lead to irreversible consequences, the extinction of species of flora and fauna. The peculiarities of the formation of a legal mechanism for regulating relations in the field of genetic technologies are due to the fact that these problems are not realized. The formation of legal relations arises from already established social relations. Due to the specifics of the object of regulation of legal relations, a procedure of expert and public discussion is necessary. However, it is difficult in the context of the existing economic model, the activities of commercial organizations and lobbying for their interests.

From Recruitment to Retention: AI Tools for Human Resource Decision-Making

HR decision-making is changing as a result of artificial intelligence (AI), especially in the areas of hiring, onboarding, and retention. This study examines the use of AI tools throughout the lifecycle of an employee, emphasizing how they enhance the effectiveness, customization, and scalability of HR procedures. These solutions streamline employee setup, learning, and documentation. They range from AI-driven applicant tracking systems (ATSs) for applicant selection to AI-powered platforms for automated onboarding and individualized training. Predictive analytics also helps retention and performance monitoring plans, which lowers turnover, but issues such as bias, data privacy, and ethical problems must be carefully considered. This paper addresses the limitations and future directions of AI while examining its disruptive potential in HR.

A Review on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in a Medical Device

Medical Device manufacturers have been interested in artificial intelligence (AI). However, there is a constant need to evaluate its use and performance due to system complexity, the variety of their architecture, as well as ethical and legal problems. This study offers a narrative commentary on the past, present, and future applications of machine learning (ML) algorithms and artificial neural networks (ANN) in medical devices. Finding challenges and issues with AI integration in medical devices was one of the study's main research goals. From clinical engineering to medical applications, artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare. Prior to realizing the full potential, though, ethical, legal, and social issues must be addressed. Its application must also be scrutinized and regulated in terms of fair access, privacy, suitable uses and users, liability, bias, and inclusivity. Conclusion The goal of this study is to comprehend technology's accessibility, recognize artificial intelligence's enormous potential in the healthcare industry, and keep tabs on recent scientific advancements to motivate fellow researchers. Up until now, privacy and security, trust, bias, and accountability and accountability issues have dominated ethical discourses on artificial intelligence and health. As the technology's scope continues to grow, more issues will surely surface. Artificial Intelligence is relatively new when it comes to medical devices. Manufacturers of medical devices are predicted to abandon their conventional business models until 2030 in Favor of new digital artificial intelligence techniques. It is necessary to create a regulatory framework before introducing AI-based MDs to the market. The process of defining AI regulations and policies pertaining to MDs is still in its early stages, according to prominent regulatory bodies globally. In order to facilitate the adoption of regulatory frameworks and standardize the market, international standards pertaining to AI in MDs are required. Organizations like IEEE, ISO, and IEC are working to standardize data quality management and the use of AI in ways that impact human welfare. Even with acknowledged barriers, it is possible to draw the conclusion that AI has already fundamentally altered the way traditional medicine is practiced, greatly raised the caliber of medical care, and ensured universal health. It remains to be seen how the human population will be affected by the potential for future development of medical AI in addressing issues like chronic illnesses, infectious pandemics, and the aging population.

Artificial Intelligence in the Politics of the EU and China

The article analyzed different concepts of the regulation of the artificial intelligence in the context of the competition between EU and China. In just the last few years artificial intelligence has evolved from academic research and futuristic discussions into the most dynamically developing practice. The speed and scale of implementation of this technology, and even more so, the prospects, are confusing an increasing number of people ‒ from politicians and businessmen to ordinary citizens and the developers of these AI systems themselves. As a result of a comparative interdisciplinary study of the approaches of the European Union and China to the topic of artificial intelligence, common and distinctive features that are determined by value differences have been identified. The main difference, according to the Europeans themselves, is ethics based on the European understanding of human rights. Modern China, challenging global primacy, is promoting its concept in this area. The examples of problems of ethics, competition, and security show the differences in the regulation of AI implementation processes, as well as the uncertainty that increasingly determines the actions of European politicians. This may contribute to an ideologically determined loss in competition in the field of artificial intelligence. It is possible that, despite solemn statements, Europe will have to use elements of the Chinese pragmatic approach to the problem.

Organizing to address overtreatment in cancer care near the end of life: Evidence from Denmark.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how organizational factors influence the ethical and economic problems of overtreatment of cancer patients. The study applies a sequential mixed-method approach. First, our logistic regression model assesses how patient characteristics and hospital department variables influence the use of late cancer treatment (LCT), primarily chemotherapy, in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer cases using Danish registry data. Department-specific variations in LCT use across hospitals are identified, while controlling for population differences. Then, using qualitative data, we explore organizational factors that may influence hospitals' decisions regarding LCT for lung cancer patients. Between 13% and 33.3% of the studied lung cancer population receive LCT within their last 30 days of life. Variation in LCT can in part be explained by organizational factors specific to the hospital departments and their organization of their treatment decision-making process. This article is among the first to show how organizational solutions can contribute to curbing overtreatment. Hospital managers can seek to reduce overtreatment by (a) adjusting the format and frequency of patient consultations, (b) improving the cross-disciplinary collaboration structures, and (c) utilizing team conferences for discussions of treatment cessation.

Existentialism and the Anthropocene: An Appraisal of Two Humanisms

This paper reframes environmental problems, moving from a crisis of habitability to a problem of ethics, and thus suggests the possibility of creating grounded, subjective politics within the seemingly intractable Anthropocene. To this end, the paper juxtaposes Roy Scranton’s Learning to Die in the Anthropocene with Simone de Beauvoir’s The Ethics of Ambiguity in order to critically examine Scranton’s “philosophical humanism” as a distorted mirror of existentialist “ethical humanism”. Focusing on death and existentialism as central themes, the paper offers a comparison of their conceptions of humanist meaningfulness – conceived as an affect of transcendental capacities in the case of Scranton, and as everyday acts of freedom in de Beauvoir’s philosophy.

The impact of artificial intelligence on economic development: ethical aspects of technology implementation and development

Relevance. Digitalization is one of the main priorities of the economy. Machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies are introduced by advanced companies into production and management processes, and change the nature of their activities and the way they do business. New issues related to the legislative regulation of technologies, the distribution of areas of responsibility between humans and robotic systems arise, and legal relations that are not provided for by the regulatory framework appear. Technological development also leads to a profound transformation of society. New mechanisms of interaction raise a number of ethical issues. In this regard, the topic of research on the introduction of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly popular in the scientific community.The purpose of the article is to study the features of the introduction of digital systems, including those which are based on artificial intelligence, as well as to systematize the ethical problems of using such technologies.Objectives: analyze the regulatory framework for the regulation of artificial intelligence systems, determine the basic principles of its development and implementation, consider the main problems arising in connection with the expansion of the scope of artificial intelligence, as well as options for their solutions.Methodology. To achieve the goal in the research are used methods of system analysis and synthesis, bibliographic analysis. The works of domestic and foreign scientists devoted to AI, the regulatory framework of the federal and regional levels, materials of scientific journals and conferences have become the information base of the study.Results. A literary review of modern scientific research on ethical issues of implementation is presented in the article, the main normative acts used both in international practice and developed in Russia are considered.Conclusions. The systematization of the principles and ethical problems of the introduction of artificial intelligence systems based on the analysis are presented. The use of new technology has advantages, but it is necessary to create a legislative and institutional framework that will minimize risks and achieve sustainable development goals.

Artificial intelligence technologies and ethics in educational processes: solution suggestions and results

Artificial intelligence is a technology used to imitate the human-like thinking and decision-making abilities of computer systems. This technology enables computers to perform complex tasks such as data analysis, learning, problem solving and decision making. It is used in the field of education as well as in every field. While the use of artificial intelligence in the field of education provides advantages such as providing personalized learning experiences to students, providing teachers with intuition about student performance and developing educational materials, the ethical dimension should not be ignored. Therefore, the aim of this study is to produce solutions to ethical problems in the teaching and evaluation processes of artificial intelligence technologies in education. Qualitative research method was used in this study. It has adopted the phenomenological research approach among qualitative research methods. The concept of phenomenon is also the ethics of artificial intelligence. The working group consists of teachers, educational technologists and academicians. When selecting the working group, it was taken into consideration that there were teachers who use artificial intelligence applications in education and academics and technologists working in this field. Document analysis and focus group interviews were used as data collection tools. Content analysis was performed on the data obtained. According to the results of the study, ethical problems encountered with the use of artificial intelligence in education were identified and solution suggestions were offered.

Assessment of the relationship between ethical reasoning and conflict management style among nurses

BACKGROUND: Clarifying the relationship between ethical reasoning and conflict management style among nurses contributes to improving ethical performance and reducing conflicts. This study aimed to determine the correlation between ethical reasoning and conflict management style among Iranian nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employed a descriptive-correlational design and was conducted on 196 employed nurses in clinical departments of hospitals in Yasuj City in 2022. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using the Nursing Ethical Dilemmas Test and the Conflict Management Style questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: Nurses predominantly utilized a collaborative conflict management style. The mean and standard deviation of ethical reasoning among nurses were reported as 43.90 ± 8.51. There was a significant positive correlation (P value ≤0.001, r = 0.79) between ethical reasoning and the total score of conflict management styles. Ethical reasoning significantly predicted nurses’ conflict management style (β =0.21, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that ethical reasoning predicts conflict management styles among nurses. It is recommended to utilize the findings of this study to enhance the managerial performance of nurses by promoting ethical reasoning and developing educational, research, and managerial guidelines. It is also suggested that the findings of this study be used to consider management and performance solutions to solve the gaps and ethical problems in clinical nurses.

Strengthening Morale and Motivation in the Public Service in Turbulent Times

AbstractThe public service in Canada has undergone major changes and experienced significant pressures in the last decade. These changes and pressures create conditions of uncertainty, and alongside workplace policies, arrangements, leadership, and culture, affect the morale of current public servants and future public service motivation. This issue requires immediate attention because the morale of the public service determines the performance and quality of service delivery to citizens, as well as making the public service a good place to work. This research note prescribes a pathway for reform: 1. Define problems of morale and motivation; 2. Create a time‐limited task force with the goal of creating a permanent entity to address motivation and morale; and 3. Collaborate with current and future public servants to provide professional development.

Informed consent in decentralised clinical trials through an ethical lens

Decentralised clinical trials raise ethical questions regarding informed consent because the consent process often takes place remotely. This article explores the challenges (such as fewer in-person interactions) and opportunities (including new possibilities for exercising autonomy and engaging a more diverse research population) that a remote informed consent process raises for research participants. In addition, the article contains several approaches for mitigating the ethical problems that obtaining informed consent remotely raises in decentralised clinical trials, including moving toward a more dynamic informed consent process and using teleconference technologies to give regular feedback to participants, which may help increase transparency and foster trust between research participants and the research team.