Why there is a need of an ethics committee in scientific medical societies.
Scientific associations involved in clinical activities are responsible to their members and to the medical community when using new drugs or technologies in clinical practice. Any new procedure or clinical use of new drugs represents a form of research and should adhere to guidelines defined by an ethics committee. It is therefore important that all medical scientific societies should establish an ethics committee. The ethics committee should be in direct contact with the scientific or research committee of the society to evaluate if a clinical trial is useful and not dangerous for patients. A group of expert members of this committee should advise the best method to avoid harm or discomfort to the patient. This gives the best guarantee and can evaluate the real progress of such a new procedure for the benefit of the patient.
Montori
A
A
Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. alberto.montori@alice.it
Onorato
M
M
D004724:Endoscopy; D017041:Ethics Committees; D006801:Humans; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000941:ethics*; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000941:ethics*