Ethics and Scientific Integrity in Biomedical Research

Abstract

Because it is directly implicated in major social issues, biomedical research is a paradigmatic field for working in ethics to cross-reference epistemic, social, and political issues. This chapter shows that the ethics and scientific integrity of biomedical research has grasped this challenge by placing the transversal concern of trust at the heart of its approach. This question of trust is put into perspective with that of trustworthiness, which is closely linked to it, and which is described as a way of thinking together with the robustness of methods, evidence, results, and the social, ethical, and contextual relevance of trade-offs about them. In a context of increasing media coverage of scientific misconduct and profound changes in the scientific landscape, the ethics of biomedical research thus invites us to take up the complex question of the links between trust and trustworthiness.

Benefit sharing in genomic and biobanking research in Uganda: Perceptions of researchers and research ethics committee members

“…This was attributed to inequalities and power imbalances between developing and developed country partners, lack of effective communication, and lack of scientific integrity and questionable research practices. All these challenges are well documented in the literature ( Corbin et al, 2013 ; Katisi et al, 2016 ; Parker and Kingori, 2016 ; Walsh et al, 2016 ) and could result in loss of confidence and trust in collaborative research ( Moodley and Singh, 2016 ; Kretser et al, 2019 ; Coutellec, 2020 ; Singh et al, 2022 ). Trustworthiness is key to the success of biomedical research ( Kretser et al, 2019 ; Coutellec, 2020 ).…”

“…All these challenges are well documented in the literature ( Corbin et al, 2013 ; Katisi et al, 2016 ; Parker and Kingori, 2016 ; Walsh et al, 2016 ) and could result in loss of confidence and trust in collaborative research ( Moodley and Singh, 2016 ; Kretser et al, 2019 ; Coutellec, 2020 ; Singh et al, 2022 ). Trustworthiness is key to the success of biomedical research ( Kretser et al, 2019 ; Coutellec, 2020 ). Some researchers reported that they had at one stage encountered scientific misconduct in international collaborative research, and may be, that is why they did not trust that the provisions of the MTAs would be respected once samples are transferred across national boundaries.…”

Against “silent” retractions in neuroscience

“…We base our anti‐paternalistic view on the notion that without truthfulness, editors are not trustworthy. Consequently, without trustworthiness, society at large cannot consent to biomedical science (Coutellec, 2020).…”

Open Science Knowledge Production: Addressing Epistemological Challenges and Ethical Implications

“…These epistemological challenges relate to the ethical issues of trustworthiness and trust [47]. Increasing efficiency in knowledge production is of little value if the research results cannot be verified or trusted.…”