Scientific code of ethics urged
News Date: 02/01/2007
Outlet: United Press International

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. medical scientist-bioethicist says it is time for scientific organizations to adopt codes of ethics. 'Medical practice and human subject research is influenced by the Hippocratic tradition,' said Nancy Jones of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 'but no similar code of ethics has been formalized for the life and biomedical sciences. Like the Hippocratic oath, a code of ethics for the life sciences can provide a continual standard to shape the ethical practice of science.' Jones says a code of ethics is necessary because of the rapid pace of scientific breakthroughs, such as the human genome project and gene transfer. 'The stakes are higher than ever before in human history,' said Jones. 'Enhanced concerns over bioterrorism have focused attention on the dual use of knowledge derived from biological research that can be used as easily for malicious purposes.' But, Jones adds, 'Scientific prowess claims to not only predict our future, cure, or destroy people, and control evolution, but more portentously reframe what it means to be human.' She presents a prototype code of ethics in her study, appearing in the current issue of the journal Science and Engineering Ethics.