Commentary: justice and medical research: a global perspective.
Economic globalization has profound implications for health. The scale of injustice at a global level, reflected in inexorably widening disparities in wealth and health, also has critical implications for health related research--in particular when the opportunities for exploiting research subjects are carefully considered. The challenge of developing universal guidelines for international clinical research is addressed against the background of a polarizing, yet interdependent, world in which all are ultimately threatened by lack of social justice. It is proposed that in such a world there is a need for new ways of thinking about research and its relevance to health at a global level. Responsibility to use knowledge and power wisely requires more radical changes to guidelines for research ethics than are currently under consideration.
Benatar
S R
SR
Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Observatory 7925, South Africa. sbenatar@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za
D035843:Biomedical Research; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D032984:Ethics, Research; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D012935:Social Justice