Description:
Intense discussion exists concerning what constitutes professional conduct for scientists whose decisions in the laboratory can mean death for someone in the courtroom. This volume reviews the rationale for a code of ethics, makes recommendations for appropriate scientist/advocate relations, and provides examples of practical application of ethics in forensic science. The book describes the development of alternative ethical codes that have been adopted by various forensic science organizations and explores the strengths and weaknesses of these codes.
Review Quotes: "The fact that this book adopts a fairly general approach to forensic disciplines is one of its strengths...It is therefore essential that we all have an awareness and an understanding of these ramifications of our work, and Barnett's book is a decent place to start. This book will be of particular interest and use to those who adopt a more practical rather than academic approach to their particular discipline, and is vital to those creating their own codes of conduct however for some of the functional approach of this book may leave you feeling slightly unfulfilled." -Tim Thompson "Peter Barnett has built an interesting framework and discussion of ethics as it relates specifically to forensic science. ...very good contribution to the series Protocols in Forensic Science and will be very useful to forensic scientists." - Harold W. Peel, Ph.D., in Journal of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science