Hippocratic Oath for scientists
Encyclopedia
The Hippocratic Oath for scientists has been suggested as an ethical code of practice for scientists that is similar to the Hippocratic Oath
used in the medical profession. Proposals suggest that a suitable oath should encourage rigour, honesty and integrity among scientists, and ensure the minimisation and justification of any adverse effects their work may have on people, animals or the natural environment. In principle, such an oath would advance moral
and ethical thinking and could increase public support for science.
. The concept has been met with criticism for varying reasons, with Ray Spier, Professor of Science and Engineering Ethics at the University of Surrey
, UK, stating that "Oaths are not the way ahead".
It has been suggested that any suitable oath should be simple to remember and should be equally applicable to the work of physicist
s, biochemists, biologists and chemists. However, the debate has continued as to the potential use and value of a Hippocratic Oath for scientists.
Some of the propositions are outlined below.
in 1995.
He said:
Ethical conduct and moral responsibility
in science was a cause Rotblat believed in passionately, having been the only scientist to have resigned from the Manhattan Project
. Rotblat campaigned for a Hippocratic Oath for scientists for many years until his death in 2005.
Although Sulston stopped short of suggesting potential wording for an oath, his proposals reignited public and scientific debate of the topic.
, laid out a ‘universal code of ethics
' for researchers across the globe. The UK government has already adopted them.
The seven principles of the code, intended to guide scientist's actions, are:
, Canada
, pledged to honour a scientific oath. This is the first well-documented case of scientists within the research community employing an oath-declared ethical code.
The students, graduating as Biomedical Scientists, declared the following oath at their graduation ceremony:
It was publicised in international media that the students appeared to take the oath very seriously and it is hoped that further universities and institutes will begin to encourage their students to undertake a scientific oath.
Hippocratic Oath
The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by physicians and other healthcare professionals swearing to practice medicine ethically. It is widely believed to have been written by Hippocrates, often regarded as the father of western medicine, or by one of his students. The oath is written in...
used in the medical profession. Proposals suggest that a suitable oath should encourage rigour, honesty and integrity among scientists, and ensure the minimisation and justification of any adverse effects their work may have on people, animals or the natural environment. In principle, such an oath would advance moral
Moral
A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim...
and ethical thinking and could increase public support for science.
Proposals and advocates
A number of different oaths have been proposed by various prominent members of the scientific community. The idea was first suggested by Sir Joseph Rotblat, a nuclear physicist who worked on the Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. The concept has been met with criticism for varying reasons, with Ray Spier, Professor of Science and Engineering Ethics at the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, UK, stating that "Oaths are not the way ahead".
It has been suggested that any suitable oath should be simple to remember and should be equally applicable to the work of physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
s, biochemists, biologists and chemists. However, the debate has continued as to the potential use and value of a Hippocratic Oath for scientists.
Some of the propositions are outlined below.
Sir Joseph Rotblat
The idea of a Hippocratic Oath for scientists was first suggested by Sir Joseph Rotblat in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in 1995.
He said:
"The time has come to formulate guidelines for the ethical conduct of scientists, perhaps in the form of a voluntary Hippocratic Oath”
Ethical conduct and moral responsibility
Moral responsibility
Moral responsibility usually refers to the idea that a person has moral obligations in certain situations. Disobeying moral obligations, then, becomes grounds for justified punishment. Deciding what justifies punishment, if anything, is a principle concern of ethics.People who have moral...
in science was a cause Rotblat believed in passionately, having been the only scientist to have resigned from the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. Rotblat campaigned for a Hippocratic Oath for scientists for many years until his death in 2005.
Sir John Sulston
In 2001, in the scientific journal The Biochemical Journal, Nobel laureate Sir John Sulston proposed an oath so that scientists could declare their intention "to cause no harm and to be wholly truthful in their public pronouncements, and also to protect them from discrimination by employers who might prefer them to be economical with the truth."Although Sulston stopped short of suggesting potential wording for an oath, his proposals reignited public and scientific debate of the topic.
Sir David King
In 2007, the UK government’s chief scientific advisor, Sir David KingDavid King (scientist)
Sir David Anthony King FRS is the Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, Director of Research in Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, Director of the Collegio Carlo Alberto, Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and a senior...
, laid out a ‘universal code of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
' for researchers across the globe. The UK government has already adopted them.
The seven principles of the code, intended to guide scientist's actions, are:
- Act with skill and care in all scientific work. Maintain up to date skills and assist their development in others.
- Take steps to prevent corrupt practices and professional misconduct. Declare conflicts of interest.
- Be alert to the ways in which research derives from and affects the work of other people, and respect the rights and reputations of others.
- Ensure that your work is lawful and justified.
- Minimise and justify any adverse effect your work may have on people, animals and the natural environment.
- Seek to discuss the issues that science raises for society. Listen to the aspirations and concerns of others.
- Do not knowingly mislead, or allow others to be misled, about scientific matters. Present and review scientific evidence, theory or interpretation honestly and accurately.
Uptake within the scientific community
Some institutes are beginning to take the proposals seriously and in June 2008, graduating students at the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, pledged to honour a scientific oath. This is the first well-documented case of scientists within the research community employing an oath-declared ethical code.
The students, graduating as Biomedical Scientists, declared the following oath at their graduation ceremony:
"I have entered the serious pursuit of new knowledge as a member of the community of graduate students at the University of Toronto.
I declare the following:
- Pride: I solemnly declare my pride in belonging to the international community of research scholars.
- Integrity: I promise never to allow financial gain, competitiveness, or ambition cloud my judgment in the conduct of ethical research and scholarship.
- Pursuit: I will pursue knowledge and create knowledge for the greater good, but never to the detriment of colleagues, supervisors, research subjects or the international community of scholars of which I am now a member.
By pronouncing this Graduate Student Oath, I affirm my commitment to professional conduct and to abide by the principles of ethical conduct and research policies as set out by the University of Toronto."
It was publicised in international media that the students appeared to take the oath very seriously and it is hoped that further universities and institutes will begin to encourage their students to undertake a scientific oath.