Policy relevance and the ethical conduct of science.

Scientific enquiry and the communication of science are essential to achieving development goals. The demand for evidence-based policy poses a challenge to maintaining the ethical conduct of science. The modern scientist faces intense competition in light of the changing nature of collaborative efforts, the quickening pace and increasing complexity of research endeavours and a growing emphasis on commercialisation of research results. Academic performance criteria continually change, becoming more demanding and increasing complex to measure. The integrity of the scientific community is challenged by cases of falsification, fabrication and plagiarism. The mass production of science outputs, evidenced by the incredible rise of predatory journals, poses risks for the veracity of science. Yet, scientists are not the only ones driven by performance targets. Under the constant scrutiny of governing boards, research and development funders-both public and private-are increasingly pressed to demonstrate outputs, outcomes and impact. There is an urgent need for independent research but also a need for consensus with regard to policy guidance. Consensus studies expect scientists to make sense of the available science and find a way of presenting the controversies, contradictions and convergence of evidence to guide policy decisions. Policy consensus dialogues can valorise science guidance. These practices adopt multidisciplinary approaches, bringing top-rated scientists from a variety of disciplines around the table to contribute best practice examples, share experiences and lessons learnt against the background of solid critique of existing research.

Ética periodística y Covid-19: análisis de contenido de los códigos deontológicos / Ética jornalística e Covid-19: análise de conteúdo de códigos deontológicos / Journalistic ethics and Covid-19: an analysis of deontological codes

Esta investigación realiza un análisis de contenido de 103 códigos de ética periodística de todo el mundo para comprobar su adaptación a las circunstancias derivadas de la pandemia Covid-1٩. A partir de siete recomendaciones formuladas por la Ethical Journalism Network (EJN), se analiza su presencia o ausencia en los códigos. Los resultados muestran una presencia desigual de los principios y diferencias importantes entre los códigos. Ninguno de ellos comprende las siete recomendaciones y solo uno asume seis de ellas. Por el contrario, 17 códigos contienen únicamente una recomendación y dos de ellos no recogen ninguna. Se concluye que las recomendaciones de la EJN más presentes en los códigos se relacionan con principios muy asentados en la ética periodística que dependen habitualmente de la fecha de actualización. Se propone incorporar secciones específicas sobre salud a los códigos. (AU)

This article presents the results of a content analysis of 103 journalistic codes of ethics throughout the world conducted to test the adaptation of these codes to Covid-19 pandemic. Based on seven recommendations formulated by the Ethical Journalism Network (EJN), we analyze the presence or absence of each principle. The findings show an uneven presence of the principles and important differences across the codes. None of the codes cover the seven recommendations and just one addressed six of them. In contrast, 17 codes contain only one recommendation and two do not contain any. The EJN recommendations that are most present in the codes address well-established principles in journalistic ethics. The year of the latest update of the code is also a determining factor. Specific sections on health should be incorporated into the codes. (AU)

Esse artigo desenvolve uma análise de conteúdo de 103 códigos jornalísticos de ética em todo o mundo para testar sua adaptação às circunstâncias da Covid-19. Com base nas sete recomendações formuladas pela Ethical Journalism Network (EJN), analisa a presença ou ausência de cada princípio. Os resultados mostram uma presença desigual de princípios e importantes diferenças entre os códigos. Nenhum deles entende as sete recomendações e apenas uma assume seis delas. Em contraste, 17 códigos contêm apenas uma recomendação e dois deles não contêm nenhum. Conclui-se que as recomendações da EJN mais presentes nos códigos dizem respeito a princípios muito estabelecidos na ética jornalística. O ano da última atualização do código também se torna um fator determinante. Propõe-se incorporar seções específicas de saúde nos códigos. (AU)

[Liability in medical-assisted suicide].

Summarizing the contents of the Italian Constitutional Court's judgment n. 242/2019 on the non-liability in medical-assisted suicide, the author looks at how the new scenarios thus opened might undermine the safety and dignity of the most fragile and vulnerable people. He voices his concerns on the shifting relationship between doctors and patients and on the delegitimization of medical ethics that must instead continue to illuminate, with its guiding principles, professional behavior.

Ética en el ejercicio de la Medicina.

1º Jornada «Derecho a la Salud», organizada por el CVSP Nodo Argentina, la Sala de Derecho a la Salud del Colegio de Abogados de Córdoba y la Escuela de Salud Pública y Ambiente de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas–UNC. La misma se llevó a cabo el día 4 de diciembre del corriente año en el Salón Rojo de la Secretaría de Graduados en Ciencias de la Salud FCM-UNC. La jornada contó con la presencia de Profesionales de la Salud, Profesionales del Derecho, alumnos de postgrado de las Carreras de Ciencias Médicas, Derecho y Ciencias Sociales y público en general. conferencia por el Dr. Andrés de León. Presidente del Consejo Médico de la Provincia de Córdoba.

Información clínica, consentimiento informado y deontología médica. Una relación reciente / Clinical information, informed consent and medical deontology. A recent relationship

El derecho a la información clínica y el consentimiento informado como expresión práctica del principio de autonomía, son conquistas legales en España de finales del siglo XX que se han trasladado a la normativa deontológica médica. Se estudia el ritmo de ese traslado. Revisión histórica de los diferentes códigos de deontología médica desde la Guerra Civil, buscando la presencia de estas ideas en ella. Hasta el código de 1979 la idea de información clínica no aparece en la normativa deontológica vigente y el consentimiento lo hace en casos muy restringidos. A partir de esa fecha su aparición es progresiva en los sucesivos códigos. Actualmente ambas ideas están completamente desarrolladas en la normativa deontológica española. La Deontología médica ha asumido como suyas las ideas de información al paciente y consentimiento in-formado. Este ha sido un proceso largo en el tiempo que ha cambiado en buena medida la orientación deontológica para las relaciones médico-enfermo. En estos aspectos, la Deontología médica pasa, de hacer hincapié en la prudencia del médico, a subrayar el deber de informar y de dar amplio espacio a las decisiones del paciente, al que reconoce como un agente moral autónomo y reflexivo, capaz de tomar sus propias decisiones sobre su salud

In Spain, the right to clinical information and informed consent as a practical expression of the principle of autonomy, are legal conquests achieved in the late twentieth century. From the law they have been transferred to the codes of medical deontology. The aim of this work is to study the pace of this transfer. Historical review of the different codes of medical deontology in Spain since the Civil War, see-king the presence of these ideas in them. Until code of medical deontology of 1979, the idea of clinical information did not appear in the contemporary deontological norm, and the rules on consent did so in very restricted cases. As of that date, their appearance is progressive in the successive codes. Currently, both concepts are fully developed in Spanish deontological regulations. Medical Deontology has take on the ideas of patient information and informed consent. This has been a long process which have brought considerable changes the deontological orientations of the traditional form of doctor-patient relationship. In these aspects, medical deontology has drifted, from emphasizing the prudence of the doctor, to emphasize the duty to inform and give ample space to the patient’s decisions, which he recognizes as an autonomous and reflective moral agent, capable of taking his own decisions about your health

[Proposal of a deontological framework for spanish biologists]. / Propuesta de un marco deontológico para los biólogos españoles.

Deontology is the set of duties and obligations in which the correct act is specified in the exercise of a profession. The Deontological Codes (CD), in addition to respecting the legal framework in which they are inserted, must go beyond the laws insofar as they are a reflection of the ethical commitment of each profession; commitment to deontological principles, which also helps to shape your identity. The aim of this project is to provide, based on the bibliography and current legal and deontological regulations, a proposal to serve as a guide for the accomplishment of Ethic Codes for Biologists (CDB), which currently does not exist in Spain, taking as a basis the revision of the ethics codes of other professions related to Biology. Under this purpose, a systematic and comparative review has been carried out of other health professions ethics codes, of the ethical guidelines emanating from scientific societies (above all, from the Anglo-Saxon area) and of the regulations applicable to those professions. The result is the proposal of the most important sections that we believe this Code should contain.

AMA Code of Medical Ethics' Opinions Related to Ethics of Life-Sustaining Technologies.

Advances in science and technology have far-reaching potential for implementation in health care and must be considered from an ethics perspective. Physicians conducting research on such technologies must consider their duties to subjects and patients. The AMA Code of Medical Ethics offers guidance on research conduct and best practices for using innovation patents.

Transferencias internacionales de datos genéticos y datos de salud con fines de investigación / International transfers of genetic data and health data for research purposes

El desarrollo presente y futuro de la investigación científica y, en especial, la biomédica, depende, en gran medida, de la internacionalización del sector y de la constitución de un ecosistema científico global y conectado. Sin embargo, el procesamiento y tratamiento de grandes cantidades de datos personales (big data), unida a las transferencias internacionales de estos datos plantean una serie de interrogantes y retos para la protección de datos de carácter personal. Por consiguiente, el presente artículo pretende identificar las carencias y virtudes del actual marco jurídico de protección de datos personales en relación a la puesta en marcha de proyectos y consorcios paneuropeos e internacionales de investigación que requieren la recogida, explotación y re-utilización de grandes cantidades de datos genéticos y de salud, así como presentar los diversos mecanismos y soluciones susceptibles de ser utilizados para la consecución de dicha finalidad

The development of scientific research and, in particular, the biomedical research, depends on the internationalisation of this sector and the creation of a global and connected scientific ecosystem. However, the processing of large amounts of personal data (big data) together with the international transfers of such data raises a number of questions and challenges. Therefore, this article aims to identify the shortcomings and virtues of current legal framework of data protection in relation to the creation of pan-european and international research projects and consortia. Specially, those that require the collection, processing and re-use of large amounts of genetic data and data concerning health

Dilemas bioéticos comunes en la atención hospitalaria / Common bioethical dilemmas in hospital care

Introducción: La bioética es la filosofía que norma, regula y sanciona la actuación o práctica médica desde la perspectiva de la medicina como arte y ciencia sustentada en la creciente revolución tecnológica. Se espera que cada profesional y técnico de la salud en el ejercicio de la profesión realice su práctica asistencial sobre la base de los principios de la beneficencia, no la maleficencia, la justicia y la autonomía de la persona. Objetivo: Reflexionar sobre algunos dilemas o errores éticos más frecuentes en la práctica clínica hospitalaria. Síntesis: Algunas situaciones conflictivas en los centros hospitalarios incluyen la poca participación del paciente en las decisiones médicas durante el proceso de la enfermedad, las dificultades en la comunicación con el paciente por distorsión o mala interpretación, el uso inadecuado del interrogatorio y la sobrevaloración de los métodos diagnóstico en comparación con el método clínico. Conclusiones: El código de ética y los principios de la ética médica son universales y constituyen el lenguaje común en el concierto de todas las naciones para las prácticas de salud independientemente de que cada país posea sus propias normas, reglamentos y resoluciones que regulan o modelan la conducta profesional, mas no garantizan por sí solas la práctica ética de la Medicina, pero conforman un importante marco referencial. En la práctica asistencial diaria los profesionales muestran las competencias aprendidas durante el proceso formativo precedente y el grado de vinculación alcanzado en la esfera asistencial-laboral(AU)

Introduction: Bioethics is the philosophy standardizing, regulating and punishing medical practice and performance approaching of medicine as both art and science supported by the growing technological revolution. Every health professional and technician in their professional activity is expected to perform the care practice based on the principles of goodness -not the maleficence-, justice and the autonomy of the person. Objective: To reflect about some dilemmas or ethical errors more frequent in hospital clinical practice. Synthesis: Some controversial situations in hospital centers include the patient's little participation in medical decisions during the disease process, difficulties in communicating with the patient due to distortion or misinterpretation of the approaches, inappropriate use of the patient interview and overvaluation of diagnostic methods compared to the clinical method. Conclusions: The code of ethics and the principles of medical ethics are universal and constitute the common language in the concert of all nations for health practices regardless of whether each country has its own rules, regulations and resolutions that regulate or model the professional conduct, but do not guarantee by themselves the ethical practice of Medicine but they make up an important referential framework. In the daily care practice, professionals show the competences learned during the previous training process and its application in the healthcare and working scenario(AU)

[The code of ethics for nurses, history and perspectives]. / Le Code de déontologie des infirmiers, historique et perspectives.

The French decree of 25 November 2016 relating to the code of ethics for nurses reinforces the principles guiding their missions and the corresponding responsibilities. It is the fruit of a collaboration between nurses from all backgrounds heavily involved in the Order. Imbued with the nursing spirit, reflecting the sensitivities and concerns of professionals, it is a unique project and, in every regard, quite remarkable, as it has been produced by a profession which is often reluctant to put pen to paper to express its vision of health.

"Harvesting" and Use of Human (Embryonic) Stem Cells: An Islamic Evaluation.

This paper gives insight into the Islamic bioethical discussion on harvesting and using human embryonic (hESC) and adult stem cells. It describes some of the Islamic legal mechanisms involved in the bioethical discourse among Muslims. As the contemporary Islamic bioethical discourse is very diverse, the paper focuses on the critical discussion of related resolutions of the Saudi-based Islamic Fiqh Academy due to the esteem in which the IFA is held in the Islamic world and the pertinence of their rulings on this issue. This study discusses the different sources of human adult and embryonic stem cells and their use from an Islamic perspective, while questioning some directions the Islamic bioethical discourse has taken. The paper invites interested parties to deliberate the use of some of the legal means resorted to in the ongoing Islamic bioethical discourse.

Towards a European code of medical ethics. Ethical and legal issues.

The feasibility of a common European code of medical ethics is discussed, with consideration and evaluation of the difficulties such a project is going to face, from both the legal and ethical points of view. On the one hand, the analysis will underline the limits of a common European code of medical ethics as an instrument for harmonising national professional rules in the European context; on the other hand, we will highlight some of the potentials of this project, which could be increased and strengthened through a proper rulemaking process and through adequate and careful choice of content. We will also stress specific elements and devices that should be taken into consideration during the establishment of the code, from both procedural and content perspectives. Regarding methodological issues, the limits and potentialities of a common European code of medical ethics will be analysed from an ethical point of view and then from a legal perspective. The aim of this paper is to clarify the framework for the potential but controversial role of the code in the European context, showing the difficulties in enforcing and harmonising national ethical rules into a European code of medical ethics.

Análisis comparativo de los sellos de calidad de páginas web sanitarias / Comparative analysis of quality labels of health websites

Introducción. La búsqueda de información sanitaria en Internet es un fenómeno creciente, siendo su principal inconveniente el desconocimiento de la fiabilidad de las páginas consultadas. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue analizar y comparar los principales sellos vigentes de calidad de páginas web sanitarias. Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal mediante una búsqueda en Medline, IBECS, Google y Yahoo realizado los días 8 y 9 de marzo de 2015 tanto en inglés como español. Se utilizaron diferentes palabras clave en función de si la búsqueda se realizaba en bases de datos médicas o en buscadores genéricos. Los sellos se clasificaron en función de su origen, analizando su carácter, año de implantación, existencia de proceso de acreditación, número de categorías, criterios y estándares, posibilidad de autoevaluación, número de niveles de certificación, ámbito de certificación, vigencia, análisis de la calidad de contenidos, cuota, resultados del proceso de acreditación o solicitud, número de webs con sello concedido y sellos obtenidos por el organismo acreditador. Resultados. Se analizaron siete sellos, cinco de origen nacional (WMA, PAWS, WIS, SEAFORMEC y M21) y dos internacional (HONcode y Health Web Site Accreditation). Existía disparidad en la forma de llevar a cabo el proceso de acreditación, llegando algunos a no detallar aspectos fundamentales de dicho proceso o proporcionar información incompleta, desactualizada e incluso inexacta. Los más rigurosos garantizaban el nivel de confianza que las páginas web poseían en relación con los contenidos de información, pero ninguno revisaba la calidad de los mismos. Conclusiones. Aunque los sellos de calidad rigurosos pueden llegar a ser útiles, las deficiencias detectadas en algunos de ellos pueden hacer dudar de su finalidad (AU)

Background. The search for health related information on the Internet is a growing phenomenon, buts its main drawback is the lack of reliability of information consulted. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare existing quality labels of health websites. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was performed by searching Medline, IBECS, Google, and Yahoo, in both English and Spanish, between 8 and 9 March, 2015. Different keywords were used depending on whether the search was conducted in medical databases or generic search engines. The quality labels were classified according to their origin, analysing their character, year of implementation, the existence of the accreditation process, number of categories, criteria and standards, possibility of self-assessment, number of levels of certification, certification scope, validity, analytical quality of content, fee, results of the accreditation process, application and number of websites granted the seal, and quality labels obtained by the accrediting organisation. Results. Seven quality labels, five of Spanish origin (WMA, PAWS, WIS, SEAFORMEC and M21) and two international ones (HONcode and Health Web Site Accreditation), were analysed. There was disparity in carrying out the accreditation process, with some not detailing key aspects of the process, or providing incomplete, outdated, or even inaccurate information. The most rigorous guaranteed the level of confidence that the websites had in relation to the content of information, but none checked the quality of them. Conclusions. Although rigorous quality labels may become useful, the deficiencies in some of them cast doubt on their current usefulness (AU)

Whose Choice? Developing a Unifying Ethical Framework for Conscience Laws in Health Care.

Since abortion became legal nationwide, federal and state "conscience clauses" have been established to define the context in which health professionals may decline to participate in contested services. Patients and health care providers may act according to conscience in making health care decisions and in deciding whether to abstain from or to participate in contested services. Historically, however, conscience clauses largely have equated conscience in health care with provider abstinence from such services. We propose a framework to analyze the ethical implications of conscience laws. There is a rich literature on the exercise of conscience in the clinical encounter. This essay addresses the need to ensure that policy, too, is grounded in an ethical framework. We argue that the ideal law meets three standards: it protects patients' exercise of conscience, it safeguards health care providers' rights of conscience, and it does not contradict standards of ethical conduct established by professional societies. We have chosen Illinois as a test of our framework because it has one of the nation's broadest conscience clauses and because an amendment to ensure that women receive consistent access to contested services has just passed in the state legislature. Without such an amendment, Illinois law fails all three standards of our framework. If signed by the governor, the amended law will provide protections for patients' positive claims of conscience. We recommend further protections for providers' positive claims as well. Enacting such changes would offer a model for how ethics-based analysis could be applied to similar policies nationwide.