Specific Ethical Question

Blog Post 10: Specific Ethical Question

Ask/address an ethical question in your field of interest.
Develop/address arguments for each side of the issue, then defend your position on the issue.
this activity must include references
each student will then review this beginning on Nov 2.
Evaluation Criteria:

1-4 are evaluated by assigning a strong(S), medium(M) or weak(W)

1. Described field of interest and described question posed.
2. Both sides of argument were presented.
3. Appropriate references were included
4. Defended position is described clearly
5. provide one useful comment

The question: Is it ethical to be genetically modifying the human genome to better human survival (using Gene Therapy in Humans)?

My field of interest is in the Biotechnology field I like exploring how changing/adding one factor changes the next. The idea of using Gene Therapy in humans has always been an interesting topic and there are many expansions for research in this field, but there much controversy on the issue.  The basics of gene therapy are that genes are changed in an individual’s cell or biological tissues by way of inserting, altering or removing the genes. This technique is used in treatment of diseases that are gene related. It is a relatively “new” technique that has much use before it can be used on a large scale-if that happens. The basic idea is that non defective genes are inserted in the genome, existing genes are modified or taking out the defective gene altogether to produce a specific result.

On the pro side the main backing is that it can be used to treat/cure a disease or genetic problem. This can extend the life for the individual or greatly change how they function. Some diseases/genetic disorders that have been used with this technique include: X-CID “Bubble boy syndrome,” cancer, deafness, Huntington’s etc.  If the genes are altered the disorder will essentially be cured in all successive generations.

However there are some cons to this issue as well. When changing the genes of individual can produce undesirable results as in the case of the gene therapy treatment of “Bubble boy” in which the individual actually developed Leukemia. Other cons include high monetary costs and the religious backing on the issue. The procedure of gene therapy is relatively expensive and isn’t affordable to the average family on a regular basis.  Religious is basically saying that we were put on this earth to have these genes and we shouldn’t be messing with the blue prints.

My position on the ethical question of Gene therapy isn’t necessarily 100% for or against it. I believe it could be very useful in the future for practical use against disease therapy and cures. However, further studies need to be done to examine the success of the process. Also I see where the religious backing would discourage changing our genes that were passed down to us-it’s basically changing who we are as a person. But if we weren’t meant to change our genetic code, why give us the ability to learn the techniques?

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_therapy

http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students98/fleck.htm

Project Title, Issue, and Action Plan

Blog Post 9: Project Title, Issue, and Action Plan

Post your team's project Title, Issue, and Action Plan.

Project Title: 

• Would installing solar panels on Jarvis Hall and Micheals Hall make economic sense?
• If not, at what point would it become cost effective to do so?

Issues:

• What does a solar panel cost?
• What is its lifespan?
• How much energy can you get from one?
• What laws cover installation and maintenance?
• What are the ethics of renewable energy use?
• Does it make business sense to use solar?
• How sustainable is solar, really?

Action Plan:

• Contact industry people and others who can advise us on the subject.
• Go look at the sand mine solar project and ask questions about how it was done along with benefits and drawbacks.

 

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Aa9qXsL_NElfZGc1Z2o3djNfMGRqa2Q3OGhn

Ethical Question

Post 8

Is it ethical for a physician to accept Wild tickets from a pharmaceutical rep to take her family to the game?

Provide an argument for this based on the current ethical fabric of society and what is accepted in the organizations involved.

This is a tough call to make here but it comes down to what the circumstances are. If the tickets are intended as a bride to the physician to prescribe the drugs sold by the pharmaceutical rep in the intent of profit then no it wouldn't be ethical. On the other hand if the gift is intended as a friendly gesture between the two in witch mutual benefits will result then it is ethical. By this I mean if the physician doesn't sway his mind set on which pharmaceutical rep he will go with based on the gesture, he makes his mind up based on other factors. 

General Ethics

Blog Post 7: General Ethics

Post an ethical code/statement for your career field of interest that has been developed by a professional organization in your field.

Post this code/statement for the following countries: USA, India, China, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Israel

Mayo Clinic's Ethical Code:

Mayo’s policy is to prevent unethical or unlawful behavior, to halt such behavior as soon as possible after its discovery, and to discipline employees who violate the standards in the Code. all mayo employees must comply with the Code of Conduct, seek clarification when questions or issues arise through their Compliance office, and assist compliance personnel in investigating any allegations of wrongdoing. mayo’s Code of Conduct cannot cover all circumstances or anticipate every situation. Consequently, employees encountering situations not addressed specifically by this Code should apply the overall philosophy and concepts of this Code to the situation, along with the ethical standards observed by honorable people everywhere. mayo Clinic’s policy is to obey the law. Where the law is permissive, mayo will choose the course of honesty and integrity.  Mayo Clinic Code of Conduct all employees, business partners, and the public must understand that mayo cares how results are obtained, not just that they are obtained. Employees are encouraged to openly discuss issues with management, to record transactions accurately in books and records (including medical records), and to be honest and forthcoming with internal/external auditors. mayo expects honesty in all aspects of every employee’s work — patient care, records, bookkeeping, budget proposals, economic evaluation of projects, etc.

 Ethical Codes:

USA:

Code of Ethics for U.S. Government Service

Adopted July 11, 1958

Resolved by the House of Representatives {the Senate concurring}, That it is the sense of the Congress that the following Code of Ethics should be adhered to by all Government employees, including officeholders.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE 
Any person in Government service should: 
1. Put loyalty to the highest moral principals and to country above loyalty to Government persons, party, or department.
2. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion.
3. Give a full day's labor for a full day's pay; giving to the performance of his duties his earnest effort and best thought.
4. Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks accomplished.
5. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not; and never accept for himself or his family, favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties.
6. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since a Government employee has no private word which can be binding on public duty.
7. Engage in no business with the Government, either directly or indirectly which is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of his governmental duties.
8. Never use any information coming to him confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means for making private profit.
9. Expose corruption wherever discovered.
10. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public trust.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blethics.htm

India:

INDIA: Code of Ethics

(Ed. note: Students taking the police training program in human rights at the Human Rights Centre of the National Law School of India University use this code of ethics as the basis of the oath that they take at the completion of their training.)

AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous and calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

I WILL never act officiously or permit my personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favour, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession - law enforcement.

(Source: A Training Manual for Police on Human Rights edited by N. R. Madhava Menon and published by the Human Rights Centre of the National Law School of India University, 1997, Bangalore, India. This code - the Professional Code of Ethics promulgated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 1957 - is reproduced from Leonard and Max, Police Organization and Management, Police Science Series, The Foundation Press, 1971, New York.)

Posted on 2001-08-14

China:

** They have adopted a new code of ethics

Thailand:

1. Promote and maintain freedom of expression and news reporting.

2. Provide only accurate news information and arrange to correct those found to be inaccurate.

3. Be polite and honest in discharging function, especially in obtaining documents, photographs and other informative materials useful for news reports.

4. Respect the confidentiality of news sources.

5. Perform duties for the greatest benefit of the public and restrain from seeking self-gain and from being an instrument of any group of people.

6. Refrain from any act that may be damaging to the profession's integrity and image.

Saudi Arabia:

-Focus on religion

Israel:

-practice Jewish Ethics

Diversity

Blog Post 6: Diversity

Talk about what diversity means to you. And explain how valuing and championing diversity will help you in your career.

*Diversity means having a variety of options around you, whether it be people (races), a variety of objects or lots of ideas. I feel diversity is very important to have because it allows for new ideas and options and a broader perspective on things. For example: having input from others with a different perspective, because they come from a different background, may result in a great finding, new method or offer an issue or possibility that was overlooked. Valuing and championing diversity will help me in my career by allowing for more than one option or way to solve problems. Also it will make me an overall better individual with all the experience with a diverse range of people. 

Post the diversity statements from 5 companies or organizations in your field of interest, comment how they are similar and/or different. How do each of these fit with your own diversity values?

*All of these companies find it important to value diversity in race of employees/workers/students, as well as other major diversity categories. They differ in the ways diversity in the business is promoted, some have groups, programs, or workers within the company. They fit in with my diversity values because I find being diverse is important to a strong work situation and that is what they believe too.

1. Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic's education enterprise promotes diversity and the added dimension that diverse students and faculty bring to each of its schools and ultimately to patient care. Such attributes include, but are not limited to, race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military veteran's status, and socio-economic status.
We strive to maintain and further develop a learning environment in which individual differences are valued, allowing all staff and students to contribute to, and develop their understanding of, local and global communities.
As a medical practice, we serve patients, families and one another with respect, concern, courtesy and responsiveness. A climate that nurtures and supports the contributions of every individual is essential to Mayo Clinic's success in patient care, education and research. Creating and sustaining this climate are the responsibilities of all who provide service and train at Mayo Clinic.
Our goal is to create a caring service environment in which individual differences are valued, allowing all staff to achieve their fullest potential.


2. Boston Scientific


We are committed to creating and sustaining a work environment and culture that promotes inclusiveness. We rely on the diversity of people, perspective and experience to achieve outstanding business results.
We sponsor Employee Resource Groups, voluntary communities dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.
Some current Employee Resource Groups are:

• Bridge - Making the Connection to Black Employees
• ¡HOLA! (Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement)
• PACE (People Accepting and Celebrating Equality)
• Pearl (Asian Pacific Employees in Leadership)
• SAIL (South Asians in Leadership)
• Women’s Network
• Young Professionals Network

3. Dow Chemical

Inherent in the human element that drives Dow, diversity is viewed as a source of advantage. We value the differing experiences, backgrounds and perspectives among our employees, and draw from those differences to fuel innovation. We are committed to building a vibrant, diverse and talented employee base – and helping each employee grow and develop as part of Dow's inclusive global community. 

4. Hennepin County Medical Center

Our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Since 1990, Hennepin has identified diversity and inclusion as a key initiative and an integral part of the care we provide.  The initial focus was concentrated on education of differences and how those differences impact productivity in the workplace. 

Though education and training are important aspects of the overall work, our continued commitment to diversity and inclusion has led us to adopt a five year strategy focused on four broad goals that take our work beyond education and training.  Within each of these goals we have multiple initiatives.  Our four goals are:

1. Expand leadership diversity

2. Strengthen workforce diversity

3. Provide culturally proficient patient care

4. Reflect the community we serve

5. University of Minnesota: Graduate School Commitment to Diversity

The Graduate School embraces the University of Minnesota’s position that promoting and supporting diversity among the student body is central to the academic mission of the University. We define diversity to encompass many characteristics including economic disadvantage, disadvantaged educational background, special talents, evidence of leadership qualities, race or ethnicity, a strong work record, and disability. A diverse student body enriches graduate education by providing a multiplicity of views and perspectives that enhance research, teaching, and the development of new knowledge. A diverse mix of students promotes respect for, and opportunities to learn from, others with the broad range of backgrounds and experiences that constitute modern society. Higher education trains the next generation of leaders of academia and society in general, and such opportunities for leadership should be accessible to all members of society. The Graduate School and its constituent graduate programs are therefore committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities through recruitment, admission, and support programs that promote diversity, foster successful academic experiences, and cultivate the leaders of the next generation.

Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Post 5: Complete PDP

Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Mission: To live a life full of fun, laughter, free of financial worries surrounded by the ones I love. All while financing my day to day activities by a career that I enjoy going to rather than dread going to.

Personal values: Family time, good friends, financial stability, a good meal, a home, love, nature, a good pair of tennis shoes, freedom of speech, and learning/education.

Strengths: I like to work to get things completed; I have a desire to help others; quick learner; both a team leader and a team player.

Weaknesses:  I take my time doing projects; I tend to be the quiet type.  

Goals:

Short term: Pass all my classes with A’s; get an internship for the summer 2012; create a course pan to graduate in December 2012; get information on Grad schools; be able to make up my mind in a timely manner.

Middle term: Graduate from UW-Stout with a degree in Applied Science-Biotechnology; visit some grad schools; go on a vacation somewhere nice- Las Vegas, California, France, Germany.

Long term: Obtain a position at a quality company to gain some science experience; get married; buy a house in a good neighborhood; have a family

What do I need to do to achieve those goals?:

-Study efficiently, talk with professors if I have questions, and complete homework ahead of time.

-Use stout career link to find an internship for the summer, and attend how to find a co-op seminars put on my career services.

-Use Access stout to make my course schedule, complete a degree audit

-Search grad school websites and request information

-Practice making quick decisions on less important issues-such as what to eat for dinner, what movies to watch, or where I want to go for the weekend.

-Network with companies

-Look up grad school preview days and get connected to visit

-Get a passport and save up some money for a vacation

Timeline for the goals:

-Study every day for at least 4 hours

-Find a summer internship by December 2011

-Apply for 2-3 internships by December 2011

-Attend a co-op seminar by Middle of November 2011

-Visit some grad schools by December of 2012

Carbon Dioxide Paper Evaluation

Post 4: Carbon Dioxide Paper Evaluation

1. Post your group's presentation.

2. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the criteria established. Where these good criteria, or should there have been different criteria established?

The criteria established had both strengths and weaknesses. A strength was that the criteria had two categories that were board enough that basically everything we were judging the paper on fit into. This was also a weakness the categories could have been broken down more which would have made it easier to determine scoring of the paper. Overall these criteria were good they could have been broken up a bit, but overall they served their purpose.

3. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the presentations as a whole. Consider the "yes" and "no" groups as a whole.

The presentations overall had some strengths and weaknesses that influenced the effectiveness of their persuasive nature. One strength I noticed was that the presentations had two presenters on average. This made the presentation seem less confusing and more organized, you could focus on what the person is saying rather than the lineup of speakers going back and forth. I also found it a strength that everyone seemed to stick to the topic at hand in their presentation and not much filler information was thrown in to take up time. On the other hand a weakness of the presentation was that some of the presentations were rather short and did not make their presentation the adequate length. This often shows lack of preparation or a weakness in time management. However; even though some presentations were short they still managed to cover the basic idea of the criteria.

4. Reflect on the group management of your group. What went well, what did not?

In my group the overall group management went pretty good, some things went well and other things could have been better. We all worked well as a team and everyone got along good. Our group didn’t have very many arguments about who did what work or how to split up the work. One thing that could have gone better was the initial splitting up of the work and getting things going; as they were a little slow at first.

5. Reflect on the personal "ethic" you felt in your group. Did you believe in your position? Where you arguing against your beliefs?

I believed in my position I was trying to sway the others to believe. I’m glad I was on this side of the issue, if I was on the other side that I wasn’t as attached to it would have made the presentation process a little bit rocky.

6. Did the class make the correct decision when considering the broader impacts of the global warming/climate change debate? Why?

The class made the correct decision when considering the broader impacts of the global warming/climate change debate, for several reasons. For one everyone used the same criteria on which to judge the paper. Between the whole class all or most of the facts in the paper and the issues at hand where discussed and debated on.

7. Explain the statement, "What we do in the US, soon will not matter." Provide evidence to justify this statement.

This statement is basically saying that in the future what the US does to improve or ruin the environment soon will not matter because there will be other countries that will have an equal or greater impact on things. To support this, India and China populations are increasing as a rapid rate while the population of the United States is remaining rather steady. (See world clock data) Because of this the other countries will have a greater influence on things over that of the United States.

8. Explain this statement, "What we do as individuals matters." Provide evidence to justify this statement.

This statement is basically saying that what everyone does on an individual level influences what happens in the world. If everyone starts changing what they do soon the world will start changing. This is because individual people are a part of the whole population and everyone is working together.

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AenLEmk1SyiMZGQ2ejd3ZnJfMGdyd21nZ2Z4&pli=1