Ethical Decision-Making #2

Is it ethical to conduct this research study? What will you do next?

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation

• I am the part of the team of researchers who are testing water sources for disease-pathogens 
• The testing requires the assistance of locals showing the sources of water where they get water and the methods they use to store water 
• Our team does not see any need to pay the assisting individuals 
• Results of the research can help to make water safe for consumption 

The ethical issue is that the team of researchers wants time and information from the locals with no compensation 

Step 2: Define the stakeholders 

• Team of researchers
• Community members 
• Affiliated universities 
• Funding agencies 

Step 3: Assess the motivations of the stakeholders

• Team of researchers
  • Recognition from the academic community 
  • Helping the local community
  • Potential promotions/more funding 
  • Scientific publications 
• Community members 
  • A need for healthy drinking water 
  • Maximum benefit from the research and minimum interference in their daily lives 
  • Will to learn more about the issue and make connections with the team of researchers 
• Affiliated universities
  • Recognition and potential increase in the number of applicants 
  • Extra funding in the future 
  • Increase in the number of partners
• Funding agencies 
  • Return on their investments 
  • Improved reputation 
  • More advertisement 

Step 4: Formulate (at least three) solutions 

• Giving a potential financial incentive to assisting locals 
  • Ethical Principle
    • Beneficence: Our actions would result in benefits to the local community members involved providing a larger understanding of the pathogen 
    • Justice: Community members receive monetary compensations based on their contributions 
  • Pros: 
    • Compensates the time and effort put by the locals 
    • Gives a larger incentive for extra help and time 
    • Locals will have a feeling they are contributing to something meaningful 
  • Cons: 
    • Potential need for additional funding 
    • Not a sustainable system in the long-term 
    • Adjusting funding for the monetary compensation may result in financial shortages in some areas undermining the research results 
• Continue as planned 
  • Ethical Principle 
    • Justice: local community is not being compensated for the effort the are putting in 
  • Pros: 
    • No extra planning, time, and funding required 
    • Research team saves money 
  • Cons: 
    • Local community might not be willing to assist the research team 
    • No benefit to the community members 
• Educate locals about the pathogen and the methods to clean water before consumption 
  • Ethical Principle: 
    • Justice: Community members receive compensation in terms of knowledge for the effort put in 
  • Pros: 
    • Community members gain an important understanding of the pathogens that might potentially cause various diseases 
    • Direct involvement of the local community may lead them to be more active participants of the project
  • Cons: 
    • Might be time consuming 
    • Community members might not be incentivized enough by the knowledge they acquire ending up taking more time to explain them the importance of it 
    • May cause panic as the locals realize what potential diseases the water might cause

Step 5: Select the best course of action

• Providing a monetary compensation 
  • Encourage more people to participate in helping with the project compared to other options 
  • Useful to community members in developing countries 
  • Does not take extra time and hinder the process of testing compared to the option 3

Step 6: What are the implications of your solution on the venture 

• Technological: 
  • The venture might lead to the development of new technologies for cleaning the water sources or alternatively, bring the new technologies not introduced in the local area for cleaning water. 
• Economic: 
  • The money provided to locals as a compensation might help out with their needs and might be considered as a seasonal job opportunity. 
• Environmental: 
  • There is a potential harm caused to the ecosystem and wildlife existing in the water with the introduction of new technologies or chemicals for cleaning water.