Página 285 - Dimensiones éticas de las regulaciones en salud

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A second reason for doubting the advisability of voluntary self-governance
of scientists in matters of censorship is that conflicts of interest arise inso-
far as publication is crucially important for career advancement in science.
A final reason is that the dual-use dilemma potentially involves conflict
between the promotion of security and the progress of science. In cases
where publication of scientifically important dual-use research conflicts
with security, neither the goal to promote security nor the goal to advance
science should be given (absolute) priority over the other. Both scientific
progress and security matter; in cases of conflict a balance should be struck
between the two. Given what they do for a living, however, it is not un-
likely that the values of scientists will be biased in favor of science over
security.
If this analysis is correct then it might be mistake to either rely on volun-
tary governance of the scientific community or on regulation by govern-
ment. A better solution might be the establishment of an (independent)
regulatory authority comprised of a mixed panel of science, security, and
ethics experts –and both governmental and civilian members(6,7).
Though I have here proposed a potential domestic solution to problems
of governance, the dangers of dual-use research are global in nature –and
so an international solution is clearly needed. One possibility is that an
international treaty requires that systems along the lines of that described
above are implemented within signatory states and/or that an internation-
al panel along the lines of that described above is established to oversee
dual-use science within signatory states. It is apt that the WHO plays a
leading role addressing the dual-use dilemma from an international per-
spective; and the establishment of a Scientific Working Group on Life
Science Research and Global Health Security is a promising start.
Ethics
To the extent that important –and conflicting– values are at stake, the
dual-use dilemma is inherently ethical in nature (7). It is noteworthy,