Aim: To determine the resources and needs of local Ethics Review Committees in South Western Nigeria. Method: This is a questionnaire-based descriptive study, where data was collected from the chair and administrators of eight Ethics Review Committees (ERCs) in South Western Nigeria. Findings: This study found that six of the ERCs reviewed were established 5 years ago and 75% of them were registered with NHREC. Of the ERCs reviewed, 75% are aware of the national ethics code (NHREC code). The majority of these ERCs (75%) had professionals, including doctors and scientists, as well as laypersons and nonscientists as members. Meetings were held once a month and when needed for 37.5% of the committees, while 25% of the ERCs usually meet every 2 months. Only a third (37.5%) of the ERCs pay their members. The majority (87.5%) of the ERCs have standard operating procedures (SOPs) and review an average of 6–10 or 10 protocols per month. Most of the ERCs (87.5%) need research ethics training regarding risk-benefit assessment, scientific design and HIV vaccine trials. Half of the ERCs reviewed have funding and financial support and 50% charge a fee for reviewed protocols. All the ERCs have computers, office space and stationery, while 50% lack access to a library. None of the committees studied have a bank account and facsimile, while 50% do not have internet access, telephone and photocopy machines Outcome: The majority of ERCs in South Western Nigeria have an adequate number of members, are familiar with international ethics guidelines and are registered with the NHREC. They also have adequate physical resources, but lack internet access and a library. Ongoing training of members is a challenge, as well as providing training programmes for new members and monitoring of research. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

<p> The Doctrine of Doing and Allowing (DDA) is the ethical principle that doing harm is morally worse than allowing harm. The objective of this thesis is to show that the DDA is not a viable principle without supplementation. Deontological and consequentialist approaches to the DDA are explored in this thesis. Both approaches are rejected due to the limitations of the binary approach to harms&mdash;the binary approach to harms is the assumption that the badness of harms is best captured by two strict categories of doing and allowing. This thesis develops a sliding-scale approach to harms. This approach is developed by using axiology&ndash;value theory. Value theory is used by consequentialism to determine what goods should be maximized by action and how those goods are ranked. This thesis uses the axiological methodology of Fred Feldman to create a more complex account of the badness of harms. The final chapter of this thesis applies the sliding-scale approach to harms to three end-of-life, medical cases.</p>

In the bioethics literature, arguments about the nature of the distinction between killing and “letting die” seem irresolvable. There is a disparity between the dominant (consequentialist) opinion on this issue and that of the medical profession. No previous studies have investigated how doctors who work with the dying understand the distinction in the medical context. The aim of my research was to explore the moral reasoning of these clinicians in relation to this question. A focused ethnographic study involved thirty Melbourne doctors (thirteen palliative care physicians, nine oncologists, six intensivists, and two advocates of physician-assisted suicide) of whom eighteen were male and twelve female, with an age range from 31 to 77 years. Half had a religious belief (Jewish or Christian) and half were atheist/agnostic. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "December, 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-54). Online version available on the World Wide Web. Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2007]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Public Health, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 379-394).

Thesis (S.T.L.)--Catholic University of America, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [92]-110).

Thesis (M.A.)--Harding Graduate School of Religion, Memphis, Tennessee, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-185).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 1995. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-115).

Thesis (M.A.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Title from screen (viewed on June 2, 2009). Department of Philosophy, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Richard B. Gunderman. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-40).