فصلنامه اخلاق در علوم و فناوری
سال نهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 27، بهار 1393)

Scientific progresses and accomplishments in all areas including medicine, can be accepted and applied only when they are in step with ethical considerations and in respect with individual’s autonomy, justice, specific rules and beliefs of societies.In 1995 and again in 1998, a guideline was provided by the WHO Ethics Committee on principles of ethical issues in medical genetics. Four basic principles of Autonomy, Beneficence, Non – malefficence, Justice were proposed and emphasized.In the latest international symposium of UNESCO on Ethics in Science and Technology (sep. 2002), suggestions were made in different areas such as Bioethics (cloning, organ cloning and donation, laboratory experimentations on human applications of genetic engineering …), Info-ethics (real and legal communication association, worldwide networks…) Eco-ethics (environmental protection, saving various energy sources and sweet water, clean air, prevention of increase of earth atmospheric temperature …) Cosmo and Biosphere Ethics (optimum and justified use of outer atmosphere by all nations …) and finally Ethics in Science and Technology from the philosophical perspective. WHO Guidelines for ethical issues in medical genetics (such as genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, DNA bank, …) have been prepared with 12 tables (check list) with elaborate recommendations for applying the ethical principles in providing medical genetic services, with be extensively discussed in this article.

These days, many studies conducted in different fields of research. However, the principles of ethical researches, especially in humanity sciences, are not considered by researchers, while it should be taken into account in physic sciences. It is clear that in all scientific research, the research process must be taken into account by researchers. The scientific research is like a chain and all parts of them should be taken into consideration. Ethics in any scientific research is as umbrella, which cover all these process and help to improve the process. The role of research in improving the overall status of society is obvious, therefore, well respected conditions for research should be provided. Researchers are responsible in front of God, herself, university, research institute, colleagues, students and the scientific community in their research activities. In this context, knowledge about scientific principles that govern the research process must be performed in accordance with ethical principles of research. Understanding ethical obligations in research and possible misconduct at any stage of the research process is the first step in development of ethics in scientific research.

Ethics is a component of virtue which can be elaborated and applied in every society. The media also finds relevance in ethics. Since ethics has a direct relationship with humans and societies, the media cannot be unethical. This study aims to evaluate observance of professional ethics by official news agencies in Iran. The descriptive method was used in this study. The statistical population included all official Iranian news agencies that were active from March 2013 to August 2013. Out of this population, ten news agencies were selected as available samples: Arya, IRNA, ILNA, ISNA, IKNA, Borna, Khabar On line, Fars, Mehr, and MOJ. The research tool was inverse questionnaire, and the obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics (mean value and standard deviation). The findings showed that the maximum and minimum mean values corresponded to the lack of plagiarism index (with a mean value of 3.65) and the independence index (with a mean value of 1.47) respectively. Therefore, the lack of plagiarism index and the independence index represented the most and the least successful instances of observing professional ethics respectively. Moreover, due consideration of the findings revealed that 50 percent of the selected news agencies had not observed professional ethical principles. Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that non-existence of codified professional ethics for the Iranian media, non-existence of private Iranian media, and the fact that all Iranian media are public organizations, play an effective role in non-observance of professional ethics by the Iranian media.

In the science of organization and management, social responsibility is one part of work ethics and it is called Cross-organizational ethics. Scientists believe that Social Responsibility has a critical impact on the success and failure of organization.The goal of present study is, analyzing and investigating the influence of ethical philanthropic of financial institutes. So, two dimensions of social responsibility used in this paper. The impact of satisfaction, trust, identification, and business performance also analyzed. The method of this research is applicable - correlative. Population of the study includes all Qazvin branches of Refah Bank. 400 subjects select as sample group by Morgan Table. A questionnaire performed for gathering information. Data analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis and structure equation used for modeling the fitness of conceptual framework. Results indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between satisfaction, trust, and identification and there is a significant negative relationship between social responsibility and ethical behaviors on customer's loyalty. Ethical behavior influences on commercial performance and it enhances trust. Findings show that social responsibility has significance relationship with customer's behavior and loyalty. Financial organizations with more commitment to social responsibility would be able to achieve better financial results.

studies showed that organizations with more emphasis on the extra-role behaviors in Compare with other organizations are healthier and more successful. It can be noted that in organizations with high level of citizenship behaviors, better performance might be seen. Therefore, the relationship of Extra-role behaviors has been tested with several variables. In this way, organizational justice as one of the most important preconditions for extra-role behaviors was identified. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between organizational justice and extra-role behaviors in employees of Asia insurance company. The research method is descriptive-correlative. The statistical population consists of all experts of Insurance Company, (1226 persons), that 140 persons were selected randomly. Pearson correlation and stepwise regression were used to analyze of data. Findings showed that there are a positive relationship between organizational justice and its component and organizational citizenship behavior. Results showed that among organizational justice components, Distributive Justice and Interactional Justice can predict organizational citizenship behavior in Asia Insurance Company. Findings showed that when organizations treat employees with fairness and equality, they will tend to perform Extra-role behaviors.

As a result of recent corporate scandals, several rules e.g. SOX have focused on the role played by Boards of Directors on the planning and monitoring of corporate codes of conduct. Non-executive directors are in a better position than executives to protect and further the interests of all stakeholders because of their experience and their sense of moral and legal obligations. Female directors also tend to be more sensitive to ethics according to several past studies which explain the fact that women are thought to place a greater emphasis on harmonious relations and the fact that men and women use different ethical frameworks in their judgments. The goal of this paper is to determine the influence of these characteristics of the Board in terms of promoting and hindering the creation of a professional code of conduct. Research method of present study is descriptive with correlation-regression type. All companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange were selected as the target population. From this population a sample of 202 was selected using random sampling. Necessary data for corporate governance were obtained from CODAL database. Then, contents of sample companie's website were analyzed in order to determine the creation of professional codes of conduct. Our findings show that a greater percentage of non-executive directors on a Board of Directors relate the creation of professional codes of conduct, positively. Moreover, the greater number of female directors lead to more ethical companies. Despite, board ownership does not necessarily lead to creation of professional codes of conduct. In essence of corporate ownership structure and its relation on corporate governance it is highly recommended that professional standard-setting organizations urge companies to establish and use professional codes of conduct. Moreover, companies tend to use more female and outside directors on their boards.

Health Care workers, especially nurses, because of deal with patients, mortality and other sources of stress, are prone to burnout. In order to identify factors affecting the reduction of burnout, this study examined the relationships between Ethical Leadership, Spirituality at Work, and Burnout among Nurses at Government hospitals in Sanandaj. The method of this research is descriptive - correlative. Statistical population included all Nurses in public hospitals (410 people) that, 148 subjects were selected using random sampling. Data gathering tools were three questionnaires: Ethical Leadership Questionnaire, Spirituality at Work Questionnaire and Burnout Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by Structural Equation Modeling. Results showed that Ethical Leadership and Spirituality at Work have correlation with Burnout. Results also showed that Spirituality at Work plays a mediatory role in increasing the relationship between ethical leadership and burnout. Based on the findings, particular attentions to ethical values by managers and organizational leaders have felt. So it is necessary to implement those practices ethically and spirituality in concern.

Ethic has an innate value itself. Work ethics are cultural norms that they have positive view on appropriate works in society. Withdrawal behavior is against work ethics. Therefore, decreasing of work ethics in an organization leads to prevention of working cooperative in performance of individual and organizational responsibilities. The goal of this study is, predicting withdrawal behaviors through work ethics and finding the correlation between them. Research method of present study is descriptive-correlation. Population of this study included all Mohaghegh Ardebili's on faculties (N=260), that among all 149 subjects were selected by simple random sampling method. Data analyzes by multi-regression and correlation coefficient. Findings show that there is a significant negative relationship between work ethics with nine variables and withdrawal behaviors with eight variables (α=0.01). According to findings, some useful suggestions for decreasing withdrawal behaviors provided. The best strategy for decreasing withdrawal behaviors is, improving and establishing work ethics in universities.

Since the educational environments, especially high schools have critical role in education and development of the society, then professional ethics for its significant effects in these situations should be attended. The purpose of the present research is, investigating the performance of professional ethics and its related factors in counselors. Research method of present study is descriptive-correlation. The statistical population included all Qazvin high school's counselors in 2011-2012. The sample group was included 92) 29 male, 63 female) that were selected by simple random sampling method. The questionnaire of Professional Ethic performance of Counselors is used as a measure. Data analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, Eta and Cramer's V. Results showed that there is not significant relation between job history and frequency of client and total professional points. Results of Cramer's V and Eta showed that there is not significant relation between gender and level of education and autonomy, beneficence, Non- malefficence. There is significant relation between professional ethics and level of education. The findings of this study suggested that demographic factors like age, gender, job history and frequency of client have no influence on professional ethics, but counselors with high educational degree more attended to professional ethics. This information can be used in education, and distribution of counselors.

The results of different studies in the area of organizational behavior management refer to the role of ethics in organization and its relationship with locus control and job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to study the relationships between locus of internal and external control and ethical behavior with job satisfaction of physical education teachers in Alborz province, Iran. The method of this research is descriptive - correlative. The sample of this study was composed of 300 physical education teachers who were selected through stratified random sampling. Wysocki and Krumm job satisfaction, Chye-Koh's ethical behavior in organization, Burger's internal and external of control assessment questionnaires were used to measure the study of variables. Pearson and multi-regression were used to analysis of research hypothesis. The results showed that the external control has a significant inverse relationship with organizational ethics. The relationship between internal control and organizational ethics was direct and significant. Meanwhile there was a significant and positive relationship between organizational ethics and job satisfaction. Also, organizational ethics were the best predictors of job satisfaction. Once the employee's vision toward organizational atmosphere was based on justice and ethics, and the employee has internal locus of control, higher satisfaction with jobs and environment can be obtained. Job satisfaction can be the result of ethical behaviour in the workplace which can increase productivity in organization.

In recent years, application of ethics in the workplace has become a real necessity. Work ethics, professional ethics and moral codes are concepts that have been proposed in management of knowledge. When the management of people affairs became known as a profession, it was suggested to the authorities that always are be sensitive to ethics. The objective of current study is identifying professional ethics of managers in the field of human resource management. In this study, for identifying components of manager’s professional ethics in the field of human resource management, opinion of 70elite was surveyed according to representative sampling. Also, questionnaire was used for collecting data and factor analysis was used for data analyses. After data analyses, 16 components were detected as manager's professional ethics in the field of human resource management. More important factors are: 1 - Observance honesty and commitment in the correct information to applicants, 2 - Compensation of employees with fairness and a commitment to their condition 3 - Fairness in Employees promotion 4 - Strictly observance and integrity in the transmission of information about employees performance, 5 - The commitment to reducing occupational injuries and … Since the management of organization's human resource issues is one of the basic tasks of all managers in different areas, this study showed that ethic plays an important role in the success of managers, and common principles of professional ethics are very important in different functions of managers.

Medicine is a valuable profession with great responsibility. Doctors are one of the greatest servants of humanity. Physicians must acquire the traits and features which society expect from them and appropriate to this important and holy profession. There are a lot of texts and articles about traits and characters of a good doctor but studies about this subject in viewpoints of patients are limited. The purpose of this study is, investigating the characteristics of a good physician from the standpoint of patients. This research is a survey study. Population includes all patients of hospitals in Tehran. Among all hospitals, 1200 Patients of outpatients’ clinics selected as an accessible sample. Patients were asked about traits and characters of a good physician by open questions. For analysis of the data descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage) and chi-square test was used. Patients were asked about traits of a good physician which 69.33% of them answered good morality and fine encountering. Another characters of good physicians in order of priority were: high scientific level and being literate 29.33%,being experienced and high skill 24.75%,patience and forbearing 15.6%,with fairness and conscientiousness and duty16.58%,enough explanation about disease 14.66%,pity and benevolent 14.83%,listening and attention to patients 13.91%,respecting and being polite 13.33%,being on time and disciplined 13.08%,accuracy on working 11.8%,leaving enough time for patients7.58%,less attention to money 7%,faitful and godly 5.75% and understand and sympathy with patients 5.25%. This study shows that the most important character of a good physician in viewpoints of patients even before high scientific level and experience is good moral and nice dealing.