Ethical Dilemmas in Science

Should what doctors say and prescribe be regulated? Is the practice of medicine being controlled by politics? Efforts to fight COVID-19 heath-related disinformation have been challenged for violating a physician’s free speech. However, in the post-Dodd era, we are effectively seeing gag orders preventing physicians from discussing reproductive health options with their patients. Why is free speech promoted under some circumstances when medical evidence shows that harmful disinformation is being presented while discussions of the evidence-based standard of care in place are being prevented? https://lnkd.in/eMBkJnsx

Is the FDA Drug Approval Process a Trolley Problem? Is the FDA drug approval process a modern-day Trolley problem? This video explores the ethical dilemma faced by the FDA in approving safe medications that could save thousands of lives while potentially harming a few. We examine the rigorous FDA approval process, from initial research to clinical trials and post-market surveillance, and discuss the challenges of balancing societal benefits against individual risks. The video delves into the concept of FDA box warnings, their implementation, and their impact on prescribing practices. We look at specific examples of drugs with box warnings, including SSRIs and NSAIDs, and consider the rare but serious adverse events that led to these warnings. Join Professor John R. Hoffman as he stimulates critical thinking at the intersection of science, ethics, and society. This video is ideal for high school science teachers, university students studying scientific ethics, and anyone interested in the complex decision-making processes behind the medications we use daily. https://lnkd.in/ewV3sfPA

How can statistics be used to prove a point without misleading? Presidential debate season is here and the candidates will use crime statistics and homicide rates to attack their opponent or defend themselves. But how can we understand if statistics are being used accurately or misleadingly?  Is what we see on the news or on social media fake news or reality? This video explores how statistics can prove a point without misleading by looking at the example of U.S. homicide data. We'll cover what statistics are, why they are needed, and how the same data can support different conclusions depending on how it is presented. We'll look at how these methods can paint very different pictures, like making a state seem extremely dangerous or relatively safe just by changing how the data is described. https://lnkd.in/gdi4DTiD

Is the Separation of Church and State possible when Regulating Science and Technology? Exploring the tension between religious beliefs and scientific progress, this video examines whether the separation of church and state is achievable when regulating science and technology. Does the First Amendment's freedom of religion also support freedom from religion's influence on scientific policy? How do you honor the rights of religious individuals without preventing the imposition of religious beliefs on scientific advancements? Are religious principles too tightly woven into societal ethics to disentangle from regulation? https://lnkd.in/eS-7a2GB

How would you solve the Trolley Problem in real life? In 2003, a runaway train presented Union Pacific workers with a moral dilemma. Divert it onto a sidetrack, risking derailment and property damage, or let it continue toward Los Angeles, endangering lives? Drawing parallels to the philosophical Trolley Problem, this video examines deontological vs teleological ethics in no-win crisis situations. We explore various scenarios weighing human lives against environmental harm, and whether inaction absolves moral responsibility. Ultimately, your solution depends on how you value different ethical considerations - a dilemma with no perfect answer. https://lnkd.in/eUXAuVSJ

Preimplantation Genetic Testing to Select Designer Babies Prenatal genetic testing can provide valuable information about the health of an unborn child, but what if DNA testing is combined with in vitro fertilization to provide this information before pregnancy? Preimplantation genetic screening during, IVF allows the selection of the healthiest embryos for pregnancy. While benefiting medical purposes, should this technology extend to non-medical trait selection? https://lnkd.in/e4xqBuKf

Misinformation in the form of fake news or disinformation is dangerous, but should the government resort to censorship to promote public safety? When is the Freedom of Speech posing a clear and present danger that requires limits on the First Amendment?  How do you balance the important discussion of crucial topics protected by the First Amendment with the harms associated with misinformation? Especially when social media misinformation was associated with the much higher death rate from COVID-19 in counties with large concentrations of Trump voters in the 2020 presidential election. https://lnkd.in/eCxn_QeR

The world’s frog population is facing a fungal pandemic that may have already caused the extinction of over 90 amphibian species. Scientists at the University of California - Riverside have discovered a virus that infects the chytrid fungus is causing the devastation. We already use natural pathogens such as bacteria or fungi to control insect populations instead of harmful chemicals that can damage human health. The use of pathogens to control pest populations is often less harmful to the environment because they affect specific populations of organisms and have no effect on neighboring species. Should we use viruses to save the frogs from extinction? https://lnkd.in/eqiArMMZ