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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