Week 3 - Doing Ethics

Pledge: We will put Ethics into the heart of our AWERB.

What does 'doing ethics' mean to you? Take our short quiz.

Topics for your AWERB to reflect on:

  • What does 'ethics' mean to the AWERB and its members? Do your definitions encompass the full meaning of ethics (see section 2 of the ethics learning outcomes document*), or just reflect certain aspects?
  • Does the AWERB 'do ethics'?
  • Does the AWERB need any additional perspectives, or training, to enable it to identify, discuss and address ethical issues?
  • Would discussions of relevant topics outside of specific projects be useful, to help the AWERB become more familiar with identifying and critically analysing ethical issues?
  • What would the AWERB, as a body, expect to happen as outcomes of the ethical review of projects and ethical discussions in general?

*RSPCA/LASA Guiding Principles to Help Deliver the Ethics Learning Outcomes of Module 2 for Personal Licensees - section 2 discusses what 'ethics' is, and is not.

Delivering Effective Ethical Review: The AWERB as a 'Forum for Discussion' provides some ideas as to how to fulfil the task of providing a 'forum for discussion and development of ethical advice to the establishment licence holder on all matters related to animal welfare, care and use at the establishment'

Putting Ethics into the AWERB - outcome of an RSPCA/LASA/LAVA/IAT AWERB-UK meeting which aimed to help AWERBs that were having difficulty 'doing ethics'

A Resource Book for Lay Members of Ethical Review and Similar Bodies Worldwide has an appendix on ethics

All the AWERB's tasks are set out in the RSPCA/LASA Guiding Principles on Good Practice for AWERBs

How did it go, or do you have any tips for other AWERBs? Please let us know using this anonymous Padlet, which will not collect your personal data

For more information on ethical review and the RSPCA's work in the area, see our ethical review web pages