### Ethics Committee Rules and Guidelines
Ethics Committee Overview
The Ethics Committee within the SCP Foundation and the Global Research Division for Space Cosmology (GRDSC) is dedicated to ensuring that all actions, decisions, and research practices adhere to strict ethical standards. This oversight is crucial for maintaining the integrity and humanity of the organizations while dealing with potentially dangerous and morally complex anomalous phenomena.
Ethical Considerations: Characters' Actions and Decisions
1. Respect for Life and Autonomy:
- Human Subjects: All experiments and interactions involving human subjects must prioritize their safety, consent, and autonomy. Coercion or harm is strictly prohibited.
- Sentient Anomalies: Entities possessing self-awareness or sentience must be treated with respect. Their containment and study should aim to minimize distress and harm.
2. Minimal Harm Principle:
- Non-Lethal Methods: Whenever possible, non-lethal methods should be employed in the containment and study of anomalies. Lethal force is only a last resort.
- Reduction of Suffering: Efforts must be made to reduce the suffering of all entities, including non-sentient anomalies, during containment and research processes.
3. Transparency and Accountability:
- Documentation: All actions, experiments, and decisions must be thoroughly documented and reviewed. This ensures transparency and allows for accountability.
- Reporting Misconduct: Any unethical behavior or decisions must be reported to the Ethics Committee immediately. Whistleblowers are protected to ensure that ethical standards are upheld.
4. Informed Consent:
- Voluntary Participation: Participation in experiments must be voluntary. Informed consent is required, where participants are fully aware of potential risks and outcomes.
- Revocation of Consent: Participants have the right to withdraw from experiments at any time without penalty.
5. Ethical Review Process:
- Pre-Approval: All research proposals and containment procedures must be reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee before implementation.
- Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing projects are subject to continuous ethical review to ensure compliance with established guidelines.
6. Environmental Considerations:
- Sustainability: Research and containment practices must consider their environmental impact. Efforts should be made to minimize ecological damage.
- Preservation: Anomalies that play a role in their native ecosystems must be contained in a manner that preserves their ecological function as much as possible.
7. Confidentiality and Privacy:
- Data Protection: Personal information and data collected during research must be protected and kept confidential. Unauthorized access or disclosure is prohibited.
- Anomalous Privacy: The privacy of sentient anomalies should be respected.