Ethics in Health Research: A Social Science Perspective

Ethical codes of conduct cannot be effectively implemented in isolation and may be enforced in several different ways. One, is to conscientise the members of the profession to observe the rules, second, is to effectively police the system, and a third is to create links with associated disciplines or community of practitioners who together can form a network of conscience keepers. Thus consultations on ethical guidelines and the documentation of experiences in research were processes that have to be undertaken simultaneously. Simultaneously with the publication of the guidelines for health research in social sciences, a first attempt in India, in November 2005, a set of papers were commisioned on various related and relevant issues as bases for discussion. This volume of collected papers describe, enunciate or elaborate relevant principles in ethics in the social sciences. Some papers elaborate on practitioners’ experiences that illustrate these principles and enrich their discussion. Others discuss theoretical issues. [Pagination may not be as in original. Individual chapters are available for downloading independently.]