A case study of conflicting interests: Flemish engineers involved in environmental impact assessment

This article reports of the activities of the working group, Ethics & Engineers, of the Royal Flemish Society of Engineers. More particularly, the ethical problems that engineers face in the preparation of an environmental report are illuminated. Irrespective to which party the engineer belongs, he or she is confronted with the difficult weighting of his or her personal interest, the interests of private companies and last but not least the common good. It is argued that the implementation of a code of ethics and the introduction of courses on engineering ethics into the education of engineers would strengthen the engineer in the fulfilment of his vocation. Dirk Holemans is a bio-engineer preparing a doctoral thesis on the social responsibility of engineers, Herman Lodewyckx teaches ethics and has research interests in professional and applied ethics.     

Geography and computer ethics: An Eastern European perspective

Several context-specific social and political factors in Eastern and Central Europe are described — factors that must be considered while developing strategies to introduce Computer Ethics. Poland is used as a primary example. GNP per capita, the cost of hardware and software, uneven and scant distribution of computing resources, and attitudes toward work and authority are discussed. Such “geographical factors” must be taken into account as the new field of Computer Ethics develops.     

Stress,coping resources,and injury risk

Over the last two and a half decades, researchers have tried to determine if psychological variables predispose or buffer athletes from injury. They have found that sport participants who experience many recent stressors, and who do not have the resources and skills to cope with the stress, seem most at risk for injury. This article reviews that research as well as efforts to identify mechanisms that might explain why the stress-injury relationship occurs and interventions that will hopefully reduce the injury risk. Because the multicomponent stress-injury model of Andersen and Williams (1988) helped provide the impetus and theoretical base for much of that research, it serves as the foundation for organizing and summarizing the findings. Although the research has focused largely on sport injuries, the findings have relevance for understanding and potentially preventing many accidents and injuries that occur outside the realm of sport participation.     

ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS OF ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES

Several guidelines surrounding the use of behavioral procedures have recently appeared, the best of which is that of the National Association of Retarded Citizens (NARC). Some issues and implications of the establishment of guidelines are briefly reviewed in the context of the NARC guidelines. Issues include the factual versus opinion bases for guidelines and the need to continue the development of explicit behavioral criteria for assessing staff competence. Implications for programs include the impact of guidelines on professional boundaries, administrative decision-making, and budgeting, together with the dangers of expanding the regulatory bureaucracy. Several miscellaneous impacts are noted, including a potential for curbing innovative behavioral technology.     

关于实验动物运动模型建立的伦理思考

基于目前广泛应用的动物实验伦理3R和5F原则,通过深入分析已有运动干预文献中的动物运动模型构建方法,分别就运动模型建立前实验动物的选取,运动模式、运动剂量的确定,模型建立过程中不同阶段不同运动形式所涉及的伦理问题,以及实验动物安乐死等各个方面进行伦理分析,探讨伦理关怀在动物运动模型建立中的必要性和重要性。运动模型的构建作为研究运动干预的关键环节是极其重要的,此建立过程中涉及到诸多动物实验伦理问题。

     

当代中国医学伦理学再启程的基础与方向探微

当代中国医学伦理学是指始于中国20世纪80年代初以来这一领域的发展历史和现状。40多年来,中国医学伦理学在医学伦理文化和医学伦理理论与实践等各方面取得的成就,为中国医学伦理学的再启程形成了坚实的基础。再启程是学科发展的一个时代性课题。今天学科所面对的是完全不同于过去的背景和境遇,中国社会高速发展驱动下的医学科技进步以及医学社会化步伐的加快,带来传统与崭新伦理问题的叠加,再启程成为对学科发展的必然要求。

     

新时代农村公共卫生政策的量化分析研究

基于“供给−需求−环境”分析模型,对中国2013年～2022年出台的242份农村公共卫生政策文件进行量化分析后发现,地区差异明显,东部、中部地区较东北部、西部地区的相关政策更多;从模型看制定供给端政策最多,需求端次之,环境端最少。从公共伦理学视角进行原因分析,提出农村公共卫生政策的公平正义有待提高、农村居民的公共利益应得到更充分维护、政策制定要符合中国式现代化可持续发展要求等政策建议,以不断完善我国农村公共卫生政策、推进农村公共卫生事业发展。

     

从平等与责任谈医患共同体何以可能

研究对“医患共同体”这一颇具可能性的命题进行分析,指出其成立的基础之一是对医患双方“分裂”处境的认知与承认,通过以对医患平等的探讨为起点,提出应将医、患双方知识/权力上的优劣转化为差异的能动性,在促进共同责任的基础上,建立在理论及实践的医患共同体。目前可能的临床实践包括鼓励医护讲述成为患者的真实体验,鼓励包括叙事医学在内的促进平等共情的实践以及赋能患者、使其具备更强能力参与医疗共同决策的实践等。

     

人体生物医学研究中受试者权益保护对策

在人体生物医学研究日益发达的今天,受试者权益保护问题逐渐浮出水面。目前我国对受试者的保护主要依赖于知情同意书和伦理委员会,关于受试者权益保护的规范性文件存在层级低、不系统和不完整等问题。建立专门的受试者保护法,完善受试者权益保护相关制度迫在眉睫。研究认为,制定专门的人体生物医学研究受试者权益保护法律,完善伦理委员会制度,推行强制保险以及救济金制度,建立严格的责任体系、开展积极的社会教育是受试者权益保护的基本对策。     

“助手”还是“杀手”：用ChatGPT求医问药的风险分析

ChatGPT正在影响人们求医问药的传统方式,将医疗保健应用场景从院内转移到院外,提高了医学知识和诊疗信息的可及性。但ChatGPT在回答医学问题时也存在不足,如回答内容的不准确性和随意性,也难以将每个患者视为独立个体并给出体现医者智慧、思想和精神关怀的答案。用ChatGPT求医问药还存在生命健康、道德伦理、安全隐私和医疗公平风险。未来,在人工智能赋能医疗发展并促进人类健康的同时,仍应警惕ChatGPT对生命健康权、知情同意权、隐私保护权的冲击。