Explain the ethical and legal issues with ONE (1) of the following topics:
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• Genetic/genomic research
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Respond:
• Take a position on the topic and include evidence to support your position.
Explain why your group agrees or disagrees with the stance and provide citations or evidence to support it. Be constructive and professional in your responses. Remember to format in APA which avoids “I,” “we,” “you,” and similar pronouns. Recommend using terms like “the group” or “the nurses.”
Part II:
Summarize and apply the decision-making model you employed and the process used to arrive at your position.
Review the following resources from this week’s University Library Readings if you need additional information about ethical decision-making models:
• An Integrated Ethical Decision-Making Model for Nurses
• Nursing Ethics in Everyday Practice: A Step-By-Step Guide, Ch. 2: Ethical Decision-Making
• 875-word paper
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Ethical and Legal Issues in Genetic/Genomic Research
Genetic and genomic research is a rapidly growing field with the potential to provide critical information about human biology and disease. However, the use of genetic and genomic information raises important ethical and legal concerns that must be addressed.
One of the key ethical issues in genetic and genomic research is the potential for discrimination based on genetic information. For example, employers or insurance companies may use genetic information to deny employment or coverage, leading to stigmatization and marginalization of certain populations.
Another ethical issue is the potential for harm to research participants. Genetic and genomic research often involves the collection and analysis of sensitive personal information, and there are concerns about the security and privacy of this information. Additionally, there is the potential for emotional harm to participants if they receive unexpected or undesirable results.
In terms of legal issues, genetic and genomic research raises questions about intellectual property rights and the ownership of genetic information. There is also the issue of informed consent and the need to ensure that participants fully understand the risks and benefits of participating in genetic and genomic research.
Given these ethical and legal concerns, it is important for researchers and organizations to employ a systematic approach to ethical decision-making in genetic and genomic research. An ethical decision-making model such as the “Integrated Ethical Decision-Making Model for Nurses” can be used to consider the potential ethical implications of genetic and genomic research and develop strategies to minimize harm and promote the rights of participants.
The decision-making model involves identifying the ethical issue, gathering relevant information, and analyzing the situation using ethical principles such as autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficrimination, and confidentiality. The model also includes a step for developing and implementing an ethical resolution, which may involve seeking guidance from ethical review boards or professional organizations, seeking input from stakeholders, or developing policies and procedures to protect the rights of participants.
Genetic and genomic research has the potential to provide important information about human biology and disease, but also raises important ethical and legal concerns that must be addressed. The use of an ethical decision-making model such as the “Integrated Ethical Decision-Making Model for Nurses” can help researchers and organizations navigate these complex issues and promote the rights and well-being of participants in genetic and genomic research.
