IMPLEMENTING ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS - TOWARD ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY

Ethics guidelines for professionals in the risk sciences are relativel y recent. The need for accountability is recognized by many profession als, and has led to the development of ethics guidelines, anchored in organization-specific mission statements or sets of core values. Almos t none of the professions' existing codes reflect on broader social co nsequences such as concern for ecological integrity. The importance of this consideration was recently noted in The Toronto Resolution where ensuring ecological integrity was directly linked to professional con duct. Guidelines are useful and necessary for professional development and day-to-day functioning, but alone they are insufficient to ensure that professionals learn about ethics and how to apply the guidelines while simultaneously recognizing the broader social consequences of.t heir professional pursuits. In the interests both of professional acco untability, as well as concern for the seamless web upon which all lif e-support systems depend, each profession needs an ethics infrastructu re. This paper provides a comprehensive organizational infrastructure, comprising a seven-step program-focusing more on process than on cont ent-for the integration of ethics into professional life. A framework for action is developed, integrating several operationalizable process steps. Difficulties in raising professional awareness and introducing an ethics infrastructure are discussed in the context of epidemiology . Professional organization and consensus on core values are seen as l aying the foundation for an ethics program. To implement a program, co difying professional conduct in the form of ethics guidelines, establi shing consistent procedures and review processes; and establishing eth ics education and training, are essential. Furthermore, introducing in centives to encourage ethical conduct, an ethics consultation service, and ongoing oversight and commitment, are critical components for suc cess. Its process goals would include ongoing review, education, disse mination, and adherence to the professions' core values, into which co ncern for issues beyond the narrow confines of professional pursuits w ould be integrated.