A Pragmatic Neuroethics Framework for Research Ethics Consultation: Embracing Pluralistic Stakeholder Engagement in Research Ethics Deliberations
Thursday, October 12, 2023
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Location: Galena (Fourth Floor)
Contemporary formulations of science are raising complex and innovative ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) that often exceed the pace of policy development or regulatory reforms. Clinical research ethics consultation (CREC) can effectively address this gap and support investigators and clinicians who work at the forefront of such innovations as they navigate the dynamic ethics landscape of novel research pursuits. CREC is a service that provides solution-oriented guidance on a voluntary basis to address ethics dilemmas that arise across the research lifecycle. It is a growing field that has been defined by few theoretical frameworks to guide practice. Here, I propose a theoretical and procedural grounding to CREC through the lens of Pragmatic Neuroethics. Pragmatic Neuroethics is a theoretical grounding that privileges systematic analyses over reliance on a set of a priori moral principles, and encourages situation-specific ethics guidance. It also underscores the importance of multidirectional and inclusive deliberations at the intersection of science and society and calls for the inclusion of diverse perspectives about ELSI issues that arise in the research enterprise. Reflecting on both the theoretical underpinnings of Pragmatic Neuroethics and highlighting case examples from CREC experience, I argue that approaching CREC through a Pragmatic Neuroethics lens promotes pluralism and effective engagement in consultation, uplifts marginalized voices in the conceptualization and conduct of research, and provides procedural anchor rooted in the systematic processes that are valued in both research domains and in the Pragmatic Neuroethics tradition.