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AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Research: The Ethics of Clinical Trials

NCJ Number
109872
Journal
Law, Medicine, and Health Care Volume: 14 Issue: 5-6 Dated: (December 1986) Pages: 273-280
Author(s)
R Macklin; G Friedland
Date Published
1986
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper examines ethical issues in research on AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) involving human subjects.
Abstract
The ethical dilemma is highlighted by the research design which uses randomized controlled trials, in which an experimental drug is tested against a placebo. Proponents argue that such a research design is required to determine a drug's effectiveness. Opponents reason that it is unethical to deny dying persons a drug which might do them good. Ethical principles governing research on human subjects are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. These principles require that researchers determine the toxicity and efficacy of drugs to combat the disease at various stages before any drug is extended beyond the experimental stage. The obligation to both present and future patients is to produce more good than harm through drug therapy. This can only be ensured through adequate drug testing. Placebo-controlled trials are necessary in the early stages of drug research to find some drug that has a therapeutic effect, no matter how small. In subsequent research, this drug can replace the placebo in tests of other drugs. Placebos should be replaced with active drugs as soon as biostatistical considerations permit. 31 references.

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