Ethical challenges posed by the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.
This paper examines how people in West Africa are reacting to the Ebola virus disease, an epidemic presently prevalent in the region. Certain lifestyle changes are suggested. Additionally, the heart of the paper focuses on the request by governments to be allowed access to experimental drugs, such as Zmapp and TKM-Ebola, for their infected populations. The author argues that granting such a request would circumvent research ethics procedures, which could potentially constitute significant risk to users of the drugs. The Pfizer Kano meningitis trial of 1996 is cited as an example to buttress how unapproved drugs could prove fatal.
Department of Philosophy, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria, pfomonzejele@yahoo.com.
Peter F
PF
Omonzejele
D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000941:ethics*; D057176:Compassionate Use Trials / Q000941:ethics*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000941:ethics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017277:Drug Approval; D004345:Drug Industry; D032984:Ethics, Research; D005655:Funeral Rites; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000941:ethics*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009549:Nigeria; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000941:ethics*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States
D000998:Antiviral Agents