PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND PRACTICES - COLUMN 179
the “do not injure” rule when perform- ing lifesaving or life-improving surgery. Gert developed the following questions to identify morally justified exceptions to the common moral rules; they are:
• What moral rule(s) is involved? • Who is harmed?
• What harm is avoided by the violation?
• Can everyone violate the rule in the same way?
• Is some sort of emergency involved?
• Was the violation intentional? • Was coercion involved?
• Are you willing to publicly acknowledge and accept the consequences of the violation? (Integrity)
My analysis of both the Whitefish Falls rules and mandates requiring Covid-19 vaccination indicates that exceptions to these rules are gener- ally not morally justified. Violating the Whitefish Falls rules to rescue someone who is hurt falls within the emergency exception. In the Covid-19 vaccination case, the potential harm caused by remaining an unprotected vector for the virus to those who cannot be vaccinated, like children, is a significant reason for not justifying an exception. Claims that surgical grade masks don’t work are contrary to standard medical advice and evidence.5 Claims about unknown side effects of vaccines that the CDC’s emergency authorizations for use of the vaccines were largely disproven by the results of the vaccination of millions. The exceedingly rare side effect of myocardi- tis, cases of which were slightly higher in number than the average incidence, only came to light following millions of vaccinations with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The CDC concluded that the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination outweighed the risks of myocarditis. Claims about the violation of personal freedom ignore the general moral rule to protect the health of everyone affected by an epidemic or pandemic by getting vaccinated. There are those who object to this analysis. I invite contribution of a morally well justified argument that supports an objection.
Sketch-based geologic 3D modelling
Jacquemyn, et al.’s 2021 paper, “Sketch-based interface and model- ling of stratigraphy and structure in three dimensions” in the Journal of the Geological Society,6 presents an alternative to 3D modelling based on mathematical computerized methods. The sketch-based system uses manu- ally drawn two-dimensional drawings of vertical cross sections and horizon- tal maps to rapidly create complex three-dimensional (3D) surfaces and geologically realistic 3D geologic models. Supplementary executable and source code to implement this process is avail- able. Jacquemyn, et al. assert, “current [computer-based] modelling tools often require specialist knowledge to capture the features of interest and are slow to create or update. Therefore, they are not intuitive to use and are inaccessible to non-specialists or different disciplines.”
Sketch-based modelling requires the geoscientist drawing the sections and maps to think about the geology and can overcome the “creative results” of computer modelling, particularly in areas with less sampling and drilling control. A combination of “supervised” modelling using both computer and sketch-based methods may lead to more accurate results. Accurate and appro- priately spaced data is required for any good model; see Abbott, D.M., Jr., 2021, Honesty—Avoiding the Misuse of Models: webinar for the Georgia Section, AIPG, 2/18/21; AIPG YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk_ G1D92dG4, 55.46 minutes.
Should a “Reasonableness” standard be added to the AIPG Code of Ethics?
The International Mineral Property Valuation Standards Template (includes Petroleum) (IMVAL Template), 4th ed., April 2021 is based on “three fundamen- tal principles that must be followed in undertaking Valuations and Valuation Reports: Competence, Materiality, and Transparency. In addition to these fundamental principles, Objectivity, Independence, and Reasonableness may also apply under national codes or stan- dards.” The Reasonableness standard
states that, “The Valuer must ensure the Reasonableness of the Valuation. Any Valuation, assumptions applied, and any method relied upon should be reasonable within the context of the purpose of the Valuation and the Basis of Value. A method applied to the subject Mineral Property should be within the expected capability and consideration of an assumed likely buyer or lessee of the property.” The IMVAL Template’s Reasonableness standard can be easily modified to apply to any geoscience professional report. A rea- sonableness standard is not included in the CRIRSCO Template or other mineral property reporting standards. Should a Reasonableness standard be added to the AIPG Code of Ethics?
The proposed general Reasonableness standard would be: “The author(s) of geoscience reports or presentations must ensure the Reasonableness of all con- tained conclusions and recommenda- tions. ‘Reasonableness’ means that other qualified and experienced geoscientists with access to the same information would consider the author(s)’ inter- pretations and conclusions to be with a reasonable range of variation. Any standards used, assumptions applied, and any method relied upon should be reasonable within the context of the purpose of the report or presentation. Any method applied in the subject report or presentation should be within the expected capability and consideration of an assumed likely reader of the report or presentation.”
The purpose of a Reasonableness standard is to assure that any geoscience reports or presentations reflect a realis- tic assessment of the purposes of report or presentation, particularly from the perspective of the assumed reader of the report or presentation. Conceptually, while several reports on the same topic would be expected to fall within a nor- mal distribution of conclusions, the Reasonableness standard would help ensure that a particular report is less than one standard deviation from this normal distribution. What do you think? Please contribute your comments and suggestions regarding the need for a reasonableness standard.
5. The lack of a flu season last fall and winter (2019-2020) is attributed to the mask wearing and social distancing recommended to fight off Covid-19.
6.
https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-187 32 TPG •
Oct.Nov.Dec 2021
www.aipg.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
