Confessions of an expert ethics witness.
The aim of this essay is to describe and reflect upon the concrete particulars of one academician's work as an expert ethics witness. The commentary on my practices and the narrative descriptions of three cases are offered as evidence for the thesis that it is possible to act honorably within a role that some have considered to be inherently illicit. Practical measures are described for avoiding some of the best known pitfalls. The discussion concludes with a listing of the distinctive competencies and understandings that are useful in serving as an expert ethics witness.
Kipnis
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Department of Philosophy, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu 96822, USA.
D026688:Bioethical Issues; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002835:Christianity; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D032921:Consensus; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D028663:Ethical Theory; D026822:Ethicists; D004989:Ethics; D033061:Ethics Consultation; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D035082:Federal Government; D006254:Hawaii; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007258:Informed Consent; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D033222:Judicial Role; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010290:Parents; D024382:Professional Role; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012297:Right to Die; D012941:Social Responsibility; D036302:Therapeutic Human Experimentation; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D028761:Withholding Treatment