Describe and discuss two ethical issues that have arisen in empirical studies of obedience.

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d) Describe and discuss two ethical issues that have arisen in empirical studies of obedience. (10 marks)

     In Hofling’s study of obedience in nurse which is aim to see if nurses would obey an order from a doctor that breached hospital regulations and was contrary to safe practice. An unwitting nurse-participant received a phone call from an unknown doctor who asked her to administer a drug called Astroten so that it could take effect before he arrived. If the nurse obeyed, she would be breaking a number of hospital rules administering a drug that was not on the ward list for the day and it can be harmless to the patients.

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      The first ethical issue of Hofling study is lack of protection of the patients. The protection is necessary although it will be stopped by another nurse who was an accomplice of the researcher if the nurse is obeyed, it still very dangerous if accident is going to be happens. Although the participants were fully debriefed, the consequences of their actions could have been harmful.

      The second ethical issue of Hofling study is the nurses who are the participants of the study do not have option to withdraw. It is necessary because the nurse will ...

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