Homework
A colleague of yours, Dr. Green, who is the director of a privately-managed biomedical research laboratory in Washington DC, has contacted you for advice on a recent ethical dilemma that has arisen in her lab.
Her lab is regarded as the international leader in neurological research to help cure sufferers of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological diseases and traumas. The lab is primarily funded through NIH grants.
The lab of her long-time collaborator, Dr. Diggity in Melbourne, Australia was awarded a large grant from the Australian government to perform research on nerve regeneration using human embryonic stem cells. Their initial results show a tripling in the survival rate for severe spinal cord injuries, but they have also come under scrutiny from doctors who believe that their methods and equipment are too inadequate to produce repeatable results.
Because Dr. Green’s facilities are the only ones capable of making the measurements with the necessary precision, Dr. Diggity suggested that he send the cell samples to Washington. Here the experiment could be duplicated and results confirmed.
You have been asked to consider this question from one of several perspectives that might be relevant.
- Describe a plan of action for making a decision in this case from your assigned perspective.
- You can use the resources from Research and Revise, the videos shown in class, and any other resources you find relevant to research the question.
- Using this plan of action, describe and justify your final recommendation in two pages.
Perspectives:
- As the attorney retained by the lab to advise them on regulatory issues, how do you recommend Dr. Green proceed with this situation?
- As the Program Director for the National Institute for Neurological Disorders at NIH , how do you recommend Dr. Green proceed with this situation?
- As a lobbyist for the National Right to Life Organization, how do you recommend Dr. Green proceed with this situation?
- As a personal friend whose child suffers from multiple sclerosis, how do you recommend Dr. Green proceed with this situation?
- As the chief financial officer for the research lab, how do you recommend Dr. Green proceed with this situation?
Continue to #5 'Test Your Mettle'
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