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Many studies of ethical
reasoning skills have
been done on various
professionals.
Objectivity and
credibility are
essential components of
expert witness
testimony. Ways to
improve ethical
reasoning skills include
understanding one’s role
(Chang, 1994) and
obtaining moral
education (Duckett &
Ryden, 1994). Expert
witnesses have a
responsibility to those
depending on them to
provide objective
information. Moral
education not only
increases ethical
reasoning skills, but
alerts the expert
witness of the
possibility of
unintentional bias.
...The use of experts to
provide testimony is
becoming more prevalent.
As jurors and courts
have become more
sophisticated, they are
demanding ethical
behavior of expert
witnesses. This trend
toward demanding ethical
behavior of experts,
i.e., reliable testimony
from experts, already
has made significant
strides due to the
Federal Rules of
Evidence and the United
States Supreme Court
rulings.
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