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What is Research Ethics?  Historical Background Need for Training  9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
Ethics and bioethics Research Ethics Historical background on the development of international guidelines and codes Conclusion
The  expressive  level (unanalyzed expressions or feeling that, by themselves, don’t provide reasons or justification) The  pre-reflective  level (justification via law, religious tenets, social values, codes of ethics, etc.; accepted uncritically) The  reflective  level (reasoned ethical argument/defence based on ethical principles, rules, virtues, values to which we consciously subscribe; justification provided) Thomas J and Waluchow W, 1998
explicit critical reflection on moral beliefs, practices and problems philosophical study of morality This is at the  reflective  level… (contrast with “descriptive ethics”)
Bioethics  is about the study of  ethical issues  arising along health care or research, and the associated decision-making process to resolve them.  Ghaiath Research Ethics
When there is conflict of moral values , beliefs, and objectives e.g. between the health care providers and the patients.  When there is conflict of commitments and responsibilities : e.g. saving patients' lives vs. using the available resources "rationally" When there is the concern that our  patients rights/values are not respected .  When the issue in focus is  related to justice in allocating the available resources   Finally, when we, as care providers feel that  we are not sure what we should do . Ghaiath Ethics of Pt. Safety, July 08.
The three questions are: How  to take  an  ethically acceptable decision to the issue in focus? Why  did we take this decision? (i.e. why we chose this ethical option and not another?) How  to implement the decision we have taken?  Ghaiath Ethics of Pt. Safety, July 08.
9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath The study of ethical issues raised by public health interventions
It is the field of ethics that systematically analyze the ethical and legal questions raised by rresearch involving human subjects.  Its main focus is to ensure that the study participants are protected and, ultimately,  that clinical research is conducted in a way that serves the needs of such participants and of society as a whole. It works when and only when it is applied before the research is conducted 9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
Born in Scandal… The Evolution of Research Ethics 9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
James Lind “scurvy study in sailors -  Salisbury Edward Jenner cowpox vaccine test 1897 Guiseppe Sanarelli yellow fever test
1900 Walter Reed established several [first ever] “ safeguards” Self-experimentation Only adults would be enrolled in research Written informed consent Reimbursement (inducement)
Pre-World War II Research standards left up to the discretion of the individual researcher World War II Experiments conducted on inmates of Nazi concentration camps 1945-1949 - Trials in Nuremberg, Germany– physicians convicted of crimes against humanity
 
Nuremberg Code (1947)   As a result of WWII Nazi experiments First international code in research ethics  Voluntary consent  absolutely essential (restricting research with infants, children, developmentally challenged, etc.) Risk/Benefit Analysis  essential to ethics review Scientific Soundness  is important to ethics review
The first provision of the code requires that “ the voluntary informed consent of the human subject is absolutely essential .” The code provides other details implied by such a requirement: capacity to consent freedom from coercion comprehension of the risks and benefits involved The code on the web:  http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/nuremberg.php3 9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
Experiment should be designed and based on: The results of animal experimentation Knowledge of natural history of disease The anticipated results will justify the performance of the experiment Avoidance of all unnecessary physical or mental suffering and injury
No experiment should be conduct where: There is a prior reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur  Exception: experimenting physicians also serve as subject Degree of risk to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem
Proper arrangements made to protect the subjects against the possibilities of: Injury Disability Death Experiment to be conducted by highest  qualified persons Highest degree of skill and care required through all stages of the experiment
During the course of the experiment the human subjects should be at liberty: To bring the experiment to an end Scientist in charge should be prepared to:  Terminate the experiment at any stage if he/she has probable cause to believe that continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability or death
The World Medical Association created the  Declaration of Helsinki  in 1964 & amended in: Tokyo (1975), Venice (1983), Hong Kong (1989), South Africa (1996), Edinburgh (2000), Washington (2002), and Tokyo (2004) “ The well-being of the subject should take precedence over the interests of science and society” Consent should be in writing Use caution if participant is in dependent relationship with researcher Limited use of placebo Greater access to benefit 9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
Respect for Persons  – people are not a means to an end; researchers have duty to protect life, health, privacy and dignity of research participants  Standard of care  must be best available, even for control group Proxy consent and assent for vulnerable populations
 
 
In 1972, the public became aware of the Tuskegee study, which took place in the southern United States from 1932 to 1972.  In 1974 the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research was established. In 1978, the commission submitted its report titled,  The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research .   Those principles—respect for persons, beneficence and justice—are accepted as the 3 fundamental principles for the ethical conduct of research involving human participants. 9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
US National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioural Research wrote The Belmont Report  in response to the Tuskegee and Willowbrook Controversies. This Led the US Department of Health and Human Services (and others) to adopt Federal Regulations regarding Research Ethics: The Common Rule  or US 45 CFR 46, last revised in 2001
Informed consent Research in developing countries Protection of vulnerable populations Distribution of the burdens and benefits Role of ethics committees  9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
First code to consider less developed communities Individual informed consent Appropriate inducements Special populations Privacy and confidentiality  Independent ethics committee review In collaborative research: Responsive to health needs of host country Agree in advance that products will be made reasonably available afterward
Formed bu US,Japan and Europe Its goal is  to standardize the process by which new drugs are developed, tested and brought to market.   The ICH guidelines require  review by an ethics committee  and  informed consent of participants .  9/1/2010 Research Ethics. Ghaiath
Kano trovan clinical trials in 1996, on pediatric age group, during the worst ever meningococcal meningitis. Lack of proper Governmental authorization and informed consent during the studies publicized in 2000, by Washington Post. Court trial and release of investigation panel reports stalled in Nigeria. Suit for 5.8 billion USD moved to the USA and report leaked there too. Settlement out of court being discussed.
“ Research Scandals” led to the development of guidelines Guidelines alone can not stop the violations of ethical conduct of research It happened everywhere, and nobody is immune… including Sudan Please bear that in mind when studying Research Ethics
 
www.nursingtimes.net http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/nuremberg.php3 .