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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: Data Science Oath." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018. Data Science for Undergraduates: Opportunities and Options. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25104.

D

Data Science Oath

The committee proposed a Data Science Oath in its interim report and offers a revised version in this final report in Box D.2 (in parallel with a modern version of the Hippocratic Oath for physicians in Box D.1). Given the sensitive nature of certain types of data and the significant ethical implications of working with such data, similar efforts to establish a code of ethics for data scientists are under way throughout the field.¹ While these various codes at times intersect in their expressions of the ethical principles for data science, the committee hopes that its oath captures the gravity of data-driven decision making and provokes discussions on the future normative structure of data science.

While there are many common aspects to the Hippocratic Oath and the proposed Data Science Oath, there are also some key differences. Both oaths, however, share aspects of being necessary but not sufficient to address current and future ethical considerations.

The potential consequences of the ethical implications of data science cannot be overstated. Previously, data were small and specialized,

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¹ To read about other work in the development of data science codes of ethics, see, for example, https://datapractices.org/community-principles-on-ethical-data-sharing/, http://datafordemocracy.org/projects/ethics.html, http://www.datascienceassn.org/code-of-conduct.html, http://www.rosebt.com/blog/open-for-comment-proposed-data-science-code-of-professional-conduct, https://dssg.uchicago.edu/2015/09/18/an-ethical-checklist-for-data-science/, http://thedataist.com/a-proposal-for-data-science-ethics/, https://www.accenture.com/t20160629T012639Z__w__/us-en/_acnmedia/PDF-24/Accenture-Universal-PrinciplesData-Ethics.pdf, accessed January 31, 2018.

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BOX D.1
Hippocratic Oath

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.

I will not be ashamed to say “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

SOURCE: L.C. Lasagna, 1964, Hippocratic Oath, Modern Version, The Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries and University Museums. http://guides.library.jhu.edu/c.php?g=202502&p=1335759, accessed August 21, 2017.

but now data are pervasive. The fact that all humans are in this together (e.g., generating data and economic activity) means that they all have a responsibility to each other.

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BOX D.2
Data Science Oath

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those data scientists in whose steps I walk and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of society, all measures which are required, avoiding misrepresentations of data and analysis results.

I will remember that there is art to data science as well as science and that consistency, candor, and compassion should outweigh the algorithm’s precision or the interventionist’s influence.

I will not be ashamed to say, “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for solving a problem.

I will respect the privacy of my data subjects, for their data are not disclosed to me that the world may know, so I will tread with care in matters of privacy and security. If it is given to me to do good with my analyses, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to do harm, and this responsibility must be faced with humbleness and awareness of my own limitations.

I will remember that my data are not just numbers without meaning or context, but represent real people and situations, and that my work may lead to unintended societal consequences, such as inequality, poverty, and disparities due to algorithmic bias. My responsibility must consider potential consequences of my extraction of meaning from data and ensure my analyses help make better decisions.

I will perform personalization where appropriate, but I will always look for a path to fair treatment and nondiscrimination.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those who need help and those who don’t.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy vitality and virtuosity, respected for my contributions and remembered for my leadership thereafter. May I always act to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of helping those who can benefit from my work.

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Data Science for Undergraduates: Opportunities and Options (2018)

Chapter: Appendix D: Data Science Oath

D

Data Science Oath

My Academies

Data Science for Undergraduates: Opportunities and Options (2018)

Chapter: Appendix D: Data Science Oath

D Data Science Oath

D

Data Science Oath