Codes of Conduct: Previous Efforts and Future Possibilities

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Codes of Conduct Previous Efforts and Future
Possibilities

• Brian Rappert

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Two items in this issue of New Scientist, one
the report on last weeks discussion of chemical
and biological warfarere-emphasize a theme which
is now always recurring in our pages. This the
responsibility which the scientist bears towards
society for the new and often awesome powers
which he generates in his laboratoryThroughout
civilized history it has been recognized that
certain groups which exercise a special influence
and wield a peculiar power within the community
must, for the common good, abide by certain rules
and accept certain limitations and
restrictionsUnless some principles of conduct
are established for the men and women who
manipulate the materials of nature, anarchy will
develop, and with anarchy, disaster.
Wanted A Code of Conduct New Scientist
29 February 1968
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Recent Calls for BW-related Codes

• International
• UN General Assembly and Security Council call for
  a code of conduct for WMD research
  
• BTWC 2005 Discuss The content, promulgation,
  and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists
  
• ICRC Biotechnology, Weapons Humanity to
  Principles of Practice
  
• National
• US NSABB to develop Professional codes of
  conduct for scientists and laboratory workers
  that can be adopted by professional organizations
  and institutions engaged in life science
  research
• UK bottom-up process (e.g., Royal Society,
  Wellcome Trust, Institute of Biology, Research
  Councils)

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A Code of Conduct could

• aim to prevent the involvement of defence
  scientists or technical experts in terrorist
  activities and restrict public access to WMD
  knowledge and expertise... Working Group of the
  United Nations and Terrorism (2002)
• entail an overt ethical code of conduct linked
  to professional membership analogous to the
  Hippocratic Oath. British House of Commons
  Science and Technology Committee (2003)
• be set up for those who do laboratory work with
  pathogenic organisms and could underscore that
  scientists, clinicians, and laboratory workers
  have personal responsibility to prevent
  accidental and deliberate releases of such
  organisms into the environment. US Department of
  State (2001)

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A Suggested Typology
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Overview of Analyses of Professional Codes

• Problems Possibilities

Stop would-be violators? No meaning outside of
context of application Need for requirements an
d enforcement, but PR exercise Global appeal?

Heighten awareness Redefine situation Furthe
r expectations for behaviour Clarify individual
and collective responsibilities
New issues affect action
THEREFORE, WHAT CODE AND WHY?
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Choices

• One Code or Many?
• Outcome or Process?
• Codifiers or Clarifiers?
• Extenders or Consolidators?
• In or Out of the BTWC?
• BW Specific or Generic?

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What Kind of Action?

• Process not just Outcome Driven
• - Facilitate dialogue about the dual use
  problem
  
• - Include those that fund, represent,
  administer, commercialize, and regulate
  research
  
• Clarifiers not Codifiers
• - Opportunity for elaborating the meaning of BW
  agreements (e.g., non-lethals, biodefense,
  transparency)
  
• Extend Existing Measures
• - What collective responsibility, what
  safety/security distinction?

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Questions for State Parties
In preparation for the 2005 BTWC talks, in
December of 2004 the UK government asked state
parties to consider
How can we encourage due consideration of the
possible consequences of the misuse of research?
How can we promote the proper use of
science-based activities and knowledge and
encourage appropriate oversight of such work?
Is it necessary to provide guidance on how to
deal with research that throws up unexpected or
unpredictable results of relevance to the BTWC
prohibitions? How might we promote consideration
among research and project funders of BTWC
issues when considering proposals, e.g., whether
the research could be misused in the future and
what steps might help to prevent this?
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What Kind of Action?

• In the BTWC
• - BWC meeting as international forum
• BW Component
• - Opportunity for elaborating the specificness
  of BW
  
• - Beyond benign intent of individuals
• What is Required?

International and National Leadership
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Issues for the Future
The need for a mobilization of scientists and th
e scientific organizations To call for multi-
lateral action To ensure the appropriate cond
uct of states To ensure the enactment of nece
ssary institutional mechanisms (e.g.,
international scientific advisory panel)
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For more information about codes, visit
http//www.ex.ac.uk/codesofconduct/