UPSC Mains 2024 GS4 Q19 — Bioethics and Research
Dr. Srinivasan is a senior scientist working for a reputed biotechnology company known for its cutting-edge research in pharmaceuticals... (a) What would you do in such a situation? (b) Examine your options and consequences in the light of the ethical questions involved. (c) How can data ethics and drug ethics save humanity at large in such a scenario? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- What would you doExamineHow can
- Scope keywords
- reputed biotechnology companysenior scientistcutting-edge researchdata ethicsdrug ethicssave humanity at large
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identifying the conflict of interest between corporate profit and public safety.
- Evaluating the tension between intellectual property rights and the right to health.
- Drafting a multi-layered action plan involving internal whistleblowing, regulatory compliance, and public transparency.
- Defining the specific role of data integrity in ensuring drug efficacy.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on the 'whistleblower' aspect without addressing the nuances of 'drug ethics' specifically.
- Failing to mention specific regulatory bodies (like FDA or CDSCO) that act as the formal channel for such data discrepancies.
- Giving a purely emotional response instead of a professional, step-by-step administrative protocol.
- Neglecting the long-term systemic solution of 'data ethics' in the final section of the answer.
- Dimensions required
- Ethical (Deontology vs. Consequentialism)Legal (Whistleblower Protection Act, Drug and Cosmetics Act)Corporate GovernancePublic Health and SafetyGlobal Bioethics
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate approximately 50 words to Part (a) for a crisp course of action. Spend 100 words on Part (b) to analyze options like internal reporting versus public disclosure using ethical frameworks. Devote the final 100 words to Part (c) by linking data integrity and pharmaceutical accountability to global survival, ensuring a high-impact conclusion.
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