Debate About Medical Research Ethics

Debates and controversies have surrounded the world of medicine since the time immemorial, 3 of the most controversial subjects being genetics research, euthanisia ethics and abortion ethics. They have been roommates since cough mixtures contained morphine and colon cancers were cured by mercury. Nowadays, however along with such news, there is baseless news making use of the fact that medical research is a paid task and it is conducted to exploit those who are residents of poor and under developed countries. However, researchers claim that in order to get an insight to check how the drug will work on humans it is essential that medical research makes use of human guinea pigs. These participants are informed about the process, and are reimbursed for their time and the inconvenience caused to them and not for the risk that they take.

The fliers and posters that call people to take part in such programs proclaim that clinical trials are something that is closer to flying and is one of the best experiences one can have in their entire lifetime. They attract people by tempting them with money and make a fuss about what all things can be done with the money got by enrolling and being a part of clinical trials. Clinical trials are described as a short holiday exercise by these publicity stunts and highlight only the fun options, leaving out the disadvantages of the whole affair.

Clinical participants have to be informed of the entire procedure beforehand before they enrol themselves for the program. After this is done, the participant needs to fill in a form that questions the individual's health and general details. Health details are essential because if you are suffering from any type of disease or chronic allergy, you may be rendered unfit for the duration of the program. Smoking, drinking, drug usage, as well as the BMI are important details that are taken under consideration before one applies for such medical trials.

The total time taken for the program depends on the availability of the participants, and the time for research can be from a time period of 5 months to 5 years. Before trials start, they are to be approved by the ethics committee and are bound by the Helsinki declaration. Drug tests and their treatments are first tested on non-human participants before they are given or administered to healthy and hearty candidates.

Risks and side effects are bound to happen and volunteers are given a brief idea about what may or may not happen to them over the course of the trial process. The participants are not merely lab rats designed for the testing of spurious drugs and mixtures concocted by mad scientists but they are individuals who have rights, which demand that they be taken care of during the trials, and that the procedures are explained to them in detail beforehand. Though there have been tragedies wherein people have died during such trials, suffering silently for a few days with a headache is a very small price to be paid if the trials give rise to a drug that could cure a disease which were at first thought of not having a cure.