BIOTECHNOLOGY

LEGAL / ETHICAL / SOCIAL

ISSUES

MORALS – THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN

RIGHT & WRONG

• MORALS ARE BASED ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELIEF OR JUDGMENT RIGHT WRONG

ETHICS – STUDY OF MORALS & HOW THEY AFFECT CONDUCT

• STUDY OF HOW WE MAKE JUDGEMENTS IN REGARDS TO RIGHT & WRONG

ETHICS IS A REFLECTION OF MORALITY

STUDY OF MORALS

CODE OF ETHICS – DOCUMENT CREATED BY A PROFESSION

THAT OUTLINES ETHICAL BEHAVIOR FOR ITS MEMBERS

THE PROFESSION IS SELF-REGULATING & PUNISHABLE BY THE PROFESSION

CODE OF ETHICS

BIOETHICS IS-

APPLICATION OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY

IN THE BIOTECHNOLOGY FIELD

[BIOTECH RESEARCH, TESTING,

MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION]

EXAMPLES: GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS, CLONING, GENE THERAPY, STEM CELLS, ANIMAL TESTING, ETC.

LEGAL – PERTAINS TO OR IS RECOGNIZED BY THE LAW

• GUARANTEED UNDER LAW

• BREECH IS PUNISHABLE IN COURT

UNETHICAL CONDUCT IS SANCTIONED BY LOSS OF

REPUTATION

ILLEGAL CONDUCT IS PUNISHED AS DICTATED BY LAW & LOSS

OF REPUTATION

NEW BIOTECHNOLOGIES MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE

OF RECENT ADVANCES IN:

• MEDICINE

• BIOLOGY

• TECHNOLOGY

• AGRICULTURE

THE USDA REGULATES THE PRODUCTION / USE OF:

• PLANTS & PESTICIDES

• DRUGS

• VETERINARY SUPPLIES

• GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS & ANIMALS

THE EPA REGULATES THE PRODUCTION / USE OF:

• PLANT PESTICIDES

• BACTERIA & FUNGI

• GENETICALLY MODIFIED MICROBES

BIOTECH COMPANIES & RESEARCH LABORATORIES

SHOULD PRACTICE:

• CONSISTANT TESTING / PRODUCTION

• ACCURATE DATA COLLECTION

• HONEST DATA REPORTING

• ADHERANCE TO RULES & SAFETY

METHODS OF ANALYZING BIOETHICAL ISSUES SHOULD INCLUDE PROBLEM SOLVING

TECHNIQUES:

• IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

• LIST POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM

• ID PROS & CONS OF EACH SOLUTION

• RANK THE SOLUTIONS (BEST – WORST)

• DECIDE & DEFEND YOUR POSITION