Appeals and codes

In research ethics it has become common practice that through appeals, declarations and codes, researchers attempt to convince each other to take a stand for or against various research fields and methods. One primary example is Nobel Prize winner Joseph Rotblat's challenge to scientists to sign a type of Hippocratic Oath. Associating oneself with a certain ethical code is naturally completely voluntary and does not constitute a formal commitment. Below is a sample of such appeals, thematically ordered.

Bioethical work and scientific freedom

• A Human Rights Lawyer's Appeal to Academics, by Joseph Saunders
• London Declaration of the International Association of Bioethics for Freedom of Discussion in Bioethics

Biotech, the environment and sustainable development

• Action Alerts and Statements (Third World Network)
• Budapest Declaration (International Union of Food Science and Technology)
• Earth Charter
• Ethical Guidelines for Biotechnology (Center for Ethics and Toxics in Gualala, California)
• Global Compact - 9 Principles (United Nations)
• Manifesto for the Protection of our Genetic Heritage (The Italian Scientific Antivivisection Committee)
• MOSAICC - Micro-organisms sustainable use and access regulation. International Code of Conduct
• Science and Technology and the Future of Cities - A statement from 72 of the World's Scientific Academies, June 1996
• Scientists in Support of Agricultural Biotechnology (AgBio World Foundation)
• Transition to Sustainability in the 21st Century: The Contribution of Science and Technology. (InterAcademy Panel on International Issues)

Genetics and life's beginnings

• Call for a ban on human reproductive cloning (InterAcademy Panel on International Issues)
• The Genetic Bill of Rights (Council for Responsible Genetics)
• On Human Embryos and Stem Cell Research. An Appeal for Ethically Responsible Science and Public Policy (Position statement from The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity)

Other medical research

• European Parliament resolution on Major and Neglected Diseases in Developing Countries
• “The Ilulissat Statement” - Synthesizing the Future: A vision for the convergence of synthetic biology and nanotechnology (Kavli Futures Symposium ‘The merging of bio and nano: towards cyborg cells’, 11-15 June 2007, Ilulissat, Greenland)
• The International Campaign to Revitalise Academic Medicine
• Philadelphia Consensus Statement to make the fruits of university research available in the developing world
• The Ancillary-Care Obligations of Medical Researchers Working in Developing Countries (Participants in the 2006 Georgetown University Workshop on the Ancillary-Care Obligations of Medical Researchers Working in Developing Countries)
• Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI)
• Resolution on the TRIPS Agreement and access to medicines (European Parliament)
• The St. Vincent Declaration - on diabetes research in Europe
• The Sydney Declaration: Good Research Drives Good Policy and Programming - A Call to Scale Up Research
• World report on knowledge for better health (WHO) - The report calls for a new and innovative approach to health systems research. Effective research could prevent half of the world's deaths with simple and cost-effective interventions.

Warfare, arms development and peace

• Advancing Human Security: The Role of Technology & Politics (Pugwash Council)
• An Appeal from Scientists in Japan to the Scientists and Citizens of the World: Charging Scientists with Moral Responsibility for the New Crisis in Nuclear Proliferation
• Appeal on the Sixtieth Anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation)
• Appeal to End the Nuclear Weapons Threat to Humanity (Nuclear Age Peace Foundation)
• Biological Weapons & Codes of Conduct (This web site aims to provide resources for those considering the place, purpose and prospects of codes of conduct. It includes a chronology of past discussions about codes for bioscientists, notice of relevant events, publications and references information, and links to key organizations)
• Call for a ban on the genetic alteration of pathogens for destructive purposes (The Council for Responsible Genetics, US)
• Declaration of Paris - Health through Peace (International Physicians for the Prevention of a Nuclear War)
• Ethics: A Weapon to Counter Bioterrorism - paper by Margaret A. Somerville and Ronald M. Atlas in Science
• Hague Appeal for Peace
• The Hamburg Call To Action (The World Future Council, May 13, 2007)
• Hippocratic Oath for Scientists, Engineers, and Executives 
• Missiles to Sunflowers - Abolition 2000 International Petition
• Model Nuclear Weapons Convention
• Resolution on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: A role for the European Parliament (European Parliament)
• Rigour, respect and responsibility: A universal ethical code for scientists (Department of Trade & Industry, UK)
• The Russell-Einstein Manifesto
• Science and Peace (United Nations)
• Scientists' and Engineers' Pledge to Renounce Weapons of Mass Destruction (International campaign from various US Organizations)
• World Medical Association Declaration of Washington on Biological Weapons
• World Medical Association Declaration on Nuclear Weapons

Overall appeals and codes, as well as other topics

• An oath for Bioscientists - a proposal (Journal of Biomedical Sciences)
• A Public Policy for Science and Technology (The international trade union federation Public Services International, PSI)
• Budapest Open Access Initiative - on open Internet access to scientific articles
• Conscience Clause for scientists
• Declaration on Animals in Medical Research (UK)
• Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge (UNESCO)
• Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations (UNESCO)
• The Humboldt Pledge, also called A graduation pledge of social and environmental responsibility
• Improving knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry across Europe: Voluntary guidelines for universities and other research institutions to improve their links with industry across Europe (EU Commission)
• INES Appeal to Engineers and Scientists (International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility)
• Interacademy Panel Statement on Biosecurity
• The Lund Declaration
• Pledge (Student Pugwash USA)
• Recommendations on the Status of Scientific Researchers (UNESCO 1974)
• Statement on Academic Sanctions or Boycotts (World Medical Association)
• Universal Declaration of a Global Ethic (Parliament of the World's Religions)
• Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities (InterAction Council)
• Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities (UNESCO)
• Universal ethical code for scientists (Council for Science & Technology, UK)
• The Uppsala Code
• The Washington DC Principles for Free Access to Science
• For researchers at multinational companies, there is The OECD Declaration and Decisions on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, which asserts that through efficient use of capital, technology and employees, these companies should help the environment as well as support economic and social welfare. See also the Business Ethics Pledge.
  

Last updated: 2010-01-04