Showing papers by "American Association for the Advancement of Science published in 1989"

Professional Codes: Why, How, and with What Impact?

Abstract: A tension between the professions' pursuit of autonomy and the public's demand for accountability has led to the development of codes of ethics as both a foundation and guide for professional conduct in the face of morally ambiguous situations. The profession as an institution serves as a normative reference group for individual practitioners and through a code of ethics clarifies, for both its members and outsiders, the norms that ought to govern professional behavior. Three types of codes can be identified — aspirational, educational and regulatory. All codes serve multiple interests and, as a consequence, perform many functions, eight of which are discussed. The process of developing a code of ethics is assessed because of the role it plays in gaining consensus on professional values and ethical norms. After discussing some of the weaknesses in current approaches to professional self-regulation, several new private and public initiatives are proposed.

Ethics and the Forensic Sciences: Professional Autonomy in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract: Forensic scientists in their roles as expert witnesses or as laboratory employees experience restrictions on their exercise of professional discretion which raise questions about their ability to act responsibly in the criminal justice system. To respond effectively to these challenges to their professional autonomy, forensic scientists must find ways to increase their control over their work and to convince other key actors in the criminal justice system of the importance of doing so.