title: Informed consent for HIV cure research in South Africa: issues to consider.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South Africa has made great progress in the development of HIV/AIDS testing, treatment and prevention campaigns. Yet, it is clear that prevention and treatment campaigns alone are not enough to bring this epidemic under control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  News that the "Berlin patient" and the "Mississippi baby" have both been "cured" of HIV brought hope to people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa that a cure for HIV/AIDS is within reach. Despite the recent setbacks announced in the "Mississippi Baby" case, protocols aimed at curing HIV/AIDS are being developed in South Africa. However with evidence to suggest that participants in clinical trials do not understand the basic concepts in the informed consent process, there is concern that future participants in HIV/AIDS cure research will lack comprehension of the basic elements of future clinical trials that aims to cure HIV/AIDS and confuse research with clinical care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research ethics committees have an important role to play in ensuring that participants understand the basic concepts discussed in the informed consent process, that they understand that research is not clinical care and they are unlikely to benefit from any early phase trials seeking to cure HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Francie van Zijl Drive, 7505 Tygerberg, South Africa. ciarastaunton@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Ciara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staunton
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D003221:Confusion; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D058872:Epidemics; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D032984:Ethics, Research; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics*; D012107:Research Design; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055990:Therapeutic Misconception