G Mabunda1. 1. School of Nursing, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville 62026-1066, USA. gmabund@siue.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: To increase awareness of the potential for conducting unethical research in poor nations in the name of scientific inquiry, and to enumerate ethical questions in HIV/AIDS research. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT: Principles of ethics and ethical analysis in clinical research. SOURCES AND METHODS: Review of literature on ethical principles of research in developing nations. FINDINGS: People who participate in clinical trials in poor countries often do so because that may be the only way to gain access to health care. However, access to tested drugs beyond clinical trials is not guaranteed. Participants often do not understand the consequences of being research subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting research in poor nations requires recognition of ethical issues and maintenance of ethical standards, regardless of material wealth of the countries. Ethical standards also indicate including people from the target population in decisions relating to designing and conducting clinical trials.
PURPOSE: To increase awareness of the potential for conducting unethical research in poor nations in the name of scientific inquiry, and to enumerate ethical questions in HIV/AIDS research. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT: Principles of ethics and ethical analysis in clinical research. SOURCES AND METHODS: Review of literature on ethical principles of research in developing nations. FINDINGS:People who participate in clinical trials in poor countries often do so because that may be the only way to gain access to health care. However, access to tested drugs beyond clinical trials is not guaranteed. Participants often do not understand the consequences of being research subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting research in poor nations requires recognition of ethical issues and maintenance of ethical standards, regardless of material wealth of the countries. Ethical standards also indicate including people from the target population in decisions relating to designing and conducting clinical trials.