Epidemiology and moral philosophy.
To an increasing extent ethical controversies affect and sometimes obstruct public health work and epidemiological research. In order to improve communication between the concerned parties a model for identification and analysis of ethical conflicts in individual-based research has been worked out in co-operation between epidemiologists and moral philosophers. The model has two dimensions. One dimension specifies relevant ethical principles (as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice). The other dimension specifies the groups of persons involved in the conflict under consideration (for example: the study-population, individuals who may benefit from the results, the researchers and their personnel, the community at large). The model has been applied to the problem of legitimacy of case-register research and to problems in psychiatric health services research as well as epidemiological research.
Westrin
C G
CG
Department of Social Medicine, Uppsala University.
Nilstun
T
T
Smedby
B
B
Haglund
B
B
D001344:Autopsy; D035841:Behavioral Research; D026686:Beneficence; D030881:Disclosure; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D026724:Ethical Review; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011634:Public Health; D035842:Research Subjects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012935:Social Justice; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden