Faith Integration Preventing Research Misconduct Through Faith

Faith Integration

Preventing Research Misconduct through Faith Integration

The process of conducting research is typically aimed at exploring a scientific postulate, confirming an emergent theory or disproving a faulty hypothesis. By and large, the purpose of research is to further human understanding and improve our abilities in areas such as the sciences, sociology and medicine. Yet, there are distinct challenges to ensuring that this research is conducted with a clear code of ethics in mind. This is especially true when working with human participants, who place themselves at the mercy and honesty of researchers. As this discussion will show, however, research misconduct is a genuine concern and can have a direct and negative impact on research participants. This is why faith integration has the potential to be such a valuable strategy in countering the possibility of research misconduct. As the discussion here will show, certain dimensions of the Scriptures align directly with the terms of ethics for engaging in a scientific research endeavor.

Perhaps the most prominent and troubling instance of research misconduct would be the Tuskegee Experiments, in which African-American men were invited to participate in a study on the effects of syphilis. The men were given a placebo but were never told they had syphilis. This research endeavor continued even as evidence emerged elsewhere that the condition could be treated with penicillin. In essence, the men were deprived of treatment for the purposes of research observation. Many were allowed to progress to the point of fatality.

In every respect, this research endeavor appears to contrast not just the standards of proper research conduct but also the terms of moral behavior set out for us by God. Accordingly, John 13 says that "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35) It is clear that this guiding premise did not enter into the Tuskegee experiments. Certainly, the racial imbalances in the United States allowed researcher to perceive their subjects as somehow less than human. Using John 13 and specifically the verses cited here, we can see that this behavior was decidedly unchristian.

Moreover, it would have the impact of further exiling this demographic from the fair, equal and faith-driven treatment they deserved. To the point, the devastation of the Tuskegee Experiments would extend beyond the disturbing mistreatment rendered by researchers. It would also have a stifling impact on the willingness of African-Americans to involve themselves in research endeavors that might truly yield health benefits. According to the article by Katz et al., "there is a widespread belief that the 'legacy' of this unethical study is that the Black community ahs a greater reluctance to participate in clinical research studies because of the abuses foisted on the participants in that study." (Katz et al., p. 1137)

The one positive offshoot of this horrific set of experiments is that it would lead to significant reform in the medical research field. According to the NIH, it would not be until 1972, forty years into the experiment, that evidence would emerge of the illicit research. This would lead to the development of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which was itself a forerunner to the Department of Human Health Services. (NIH, p. 7)

Though these agencies would not be faith-based in nature, they offered regulatory oversight and emergent ethical codes that align with the concept of faith integration in their moral orientation. In fact, it can be argued that certain Scriptural assertions are realized through the work of these regulatory agencies. Specifically, we consider Romans 12, which commands us to "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)

Being commanded thusly, and applying this concept to the undertaking of research, we can see that faith-integration has the potential to remind us of the reasons for our research. With Tuskegee, the ethical imperatives that should drive research were absent. But incorporating Romans 12:10 denotes that all research must be for the betterment of mankind. As such, research subjects must be treated with the same care and dignity as we would show to our own families. (Timothy 5:1-16)

This matter continues to be of great importance in the field of research. While revelations of the Tuskegee experiments would lead to a great deal of reform in the field, research misconduct may occur for other reasons today. For instance, an article by Crowden (2013) reports on inconsistencies in the outcome of clinical trials involving cancer treatment drug Avastin. The article makes the case that some of the trials exhibiting its positive impact on patients may have been distorted to yield desirable outcomes. This demonstrates the decision to pursue profit through research findings at the expense of human health. According to Crowden, "the Avastin experience has the potential to teach us a lot. Clinical researchers must critically consider the merit and integrity of their research questions before they expose people to new drugs or prevent them from accessing already proven therapeutic regimes -- or both." (Crowden, p. 1)