EC Syllabus on ethics in research

“The syllabus presented here is designed for use in the training of researchers and research ethics committee members throughout the European Union and beyond. It is intended to be accessible to scientific and layreaders, including those with no previous experience of ethical theory and analysis. The syllabus will cover key issues in the ethics of research involving human participants, including the ethical issues associated with new technologies. The scope of the syllabus is the ethics of scientific research involving human beings. The case studies relate to a variety of scientific disciplines including biomedical and human life sciences, and the social sciences. Readers will be introduced to a range of philosophical perspectives and concepts, and these will be used to inform discussion of practical ethical issues, but without any particular approach being promoted. Similarly, reference will be made to major religious views where relevant (e.g. in relation to research involving human embryos), but without endorsing or rejecting any particular view. The syllabus consists of eight ‘units of study’ corresponding to the chapters of the textbook, each of which will include a list of intended learning outcomes for that unit, a brief overview of the topic to be addressed in the unit, one or more case studies each with a set of questions to guide discussion by students, descriptions of the main issues that should be discussed arising out of the case studies, and (where appropriate) identification of further issues for discussion that may not arise directly out of the case studies but are related to the themes of the unit. The intention is that an instructor should be able to use the intended learning outcomes and overview in planning the course and introducing the topics to students; the case studies and associated questions can be used either as a basis for small group discussion within the classroom or as preparatory work; and the descriptions of the main issues can be used by the instructor as a basis for guiding and responding to the discussions.” ([European Commission. Directorate-General for Research, 2010, p. 5](zotero://select/groups/4907410/items/JYVSIUCE)) ([pdf](zotero://open-pdf/groups/4907410/items/JJP2HGB3?page=7))