Issues in medical research ethics

Author(s): Boomgaarden, J.; Louhiala, P.; Wiesing, U.
Document type: Book
Year: 2003
Pages: 144
Source: Publishing house: Berghahn Books (New York, Oxford)
Language(s): English

Classification

National background: European Union
Category: EU Training Material for Research Ethics
Subject areas: Conflict of interest; Experimentation on human material; Human experimentation
Content: Case studies; Ethical theories; Important codes; Legal background; Normative reflections
Issues touched: Autonomy, respect, informed consent, subjects unable to consent, role of representatives Beneficence, non-maleficence, risk for the subject Justice, benefits/burdens, research without benefit for the subject, placebos/standard therapy Protection of privacy, data protection, biological material Vulnerable groups, soldiers, prisoners, pregnant women, elderly people Social impact of research, economic benefits, risks for third parties Social background of research, conflicts of interest, researcher vs. doctor, commercialisation Ethics committees, research protocols
Audience: General/not specified
Classification remarks: This workbook, which contains papers from 11 European authors, introduces the main issues of research ethics, including the nature of research (compared to medical practice, chap. 1); regulation of research (chap. 2); research versus consent (chap. 3); vulnerable groups (chap. 4); and the researcher's duties (chap. 5). A glossary explains some of the most important technical terms used in research ethics. The Declaration of Helsinki, the Nuremberg Code and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine are reprinted in annexes. Finally, a list of references there is for further readings.

Estimation

Theoretical quality remarks: The presented cases and comments have a high theoretical standard. Links to fundamental ethical theories, however, are missing.
Didactical quality: Didactically prepared material
Didactical quality remarks: Every section contains "activity boxes" with questions, tables to be filled by the reader, etc.
Overall estimation: excellent
Estimation remarks: "Issues in Medical Research Ethics" is a very good workbook, especially for those who want to learn about the subject matter by self-study. However, links to fundamental ethical theories such as Utilitarianism or Kantiansim could enhance the quality of the presentation. Some important topics, e.g. the use of animals and clinical trials in developing countries / cultural specifics are not touched. All in all the book is an example of excellence in the field of training material for research ethics.