Alireza Bagheri,
Volume 4, Issue 0 (2-2005)
Abstract
Background: Global distribution of diseases in recent years has shown that health problems are no longer limited to the geographical borders of a country but are a global. Establishing international research collaboration has been highlighted as an appropriate strategy for confronting health problems. The possibility of exploitation of human subjects and also research capacity in developing countries particularly by pharmaceutical companies has caused concerns about the nature of such kind of research collaborations. In many countries general ethical guidelines help researchers and ethics committees to deal with the issue. However lack of expertise in general as well as ethical guidelines to address externally-sponsored research in particular, exposed human subjects to greater harm and has ignored ways of guarantying their benefits.
Methods and Results: In view of experiences of clinical trials which have been conducted in Africa and Asia by developed countries, this paper focuses attention of researchers and health policy makers on externally-sponsored researches. By reviewing the international ethical guidelines, the paper argues for the development of national ethical guidelines in order to protect human subjects as well as national interests.
Bagher Larijani, Farzaneh Zahedi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (6-2006)
Abstract
Medicine and ethics have increasingly more links caused by considerable progresses in biotechnology in different fields of medical diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The issue of research ethics is one of the most important subjects which have been emphasized by international and regional organizations, policy-makers, medical and religious professions, scientists and researchers in different countries in recent decade. It is widely understood that research ethics committees typically play an important role in evaluating the ethical aspects of medical research. A ‘Research Ethics Committee’ (REC) is defined as a multidisciplinary, independent, body charged with reviewing research involving human participants to ensure that their dignity, rights and welfare are protected. Research ethics committees protect the welfare and rights of participants involved in research through reviewing research proposals, monitoring the conduct of research and dealing with complaints that arise from research.
This manuscript will introduce you to the concepts underlying research ethics committees worldwide and in Iran. This paper will begin with a brief history of research ethics, continues with a concise overview of ethics committee situation and responsibilities, and ends with an outline of the national activities. We hope the manuscript could enhance awareness of biomedical researchers about status and duties of research ethics committees and consequently strengthen the RECs in our country.
