Concerning the Ethical Treatment of Human Subjects in Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials in the Developing World
Location
CSU 203
Start Date
9-4-2012 1:00 PM
End Date
9-4-2012 2:00 PM
Student's Major
Philosophy
Student's College
Arts and Humanities
Mentor's Name
Brandon Cooke
Mentor's Department
Philosophy
Mentor's College
Arts and Humanities
Description
As an Open Studies major, I have taken courses in biology, philosophy, and international relations, which is a challenging combination that allows me to study medical ethics on an international scale. I am completing a capstone project that focuses on the care and treatment of human test subjects in drug trials, especially those sponsored by American pharmaceutical companies that take place in international settings. To assist with this, I have read the book White Coat, Black Hat: Adventures on the Dark Side of Medicine by Dr. Carl Elliott and studied different ethical theories, in particular, Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, which is a moral theory that requires respect for the autonomy of persons. Pharmaceutical companies that sponsor the studies are concerned with the speed at which a drug can be pushed through the development process at low cost, and it is because of this that ethical treatment of test subjects tends to fall by the wayside, even if the study boasts that the trial helps those that might not otherwise receive medical care. This is arguably a violation of the categorical imperative, and it puts those of us who benefit from such trials in league with the sponsors. I will present cases of recent overseas clinical trials to offer specific ethical and practical recommendations for pharmaceutical companies, and for patients who accept treatments developed through the exploitation of other persons.
Concerning the Ethical Treatment of Human Subjects in Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials in the Developing World
CSU 203
As an Open Studies major, I have taken courses in biology, philosophy, and international relations, which is a challenging combination that allows me to study medical ethics on an international scale. I am completing a capstone project that focuses on the care and treatment of human test subjects in drug trials, especially those sponsored by American pharmaceutical companies that take place in international settings. To assist with this, I have read the book White Coat, Black Hat: Adventures on the Dark Side of Medicine by Dr. Carl Elliott and studied different ethical theories, in particular, Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, which is a moral theory that requires respect for the autonomy of persons. Pharmaceutical companies that sponsor the studies are concerned with the speed at which a drug can be pushed through the development process at low cost, and it is because of this that ethical treatment of test subjects tends to fall by the wayside, even if the study boasts that the trial helps those that might not otherwise receive medical care. This is arguably a violation of the categorical imperative, and it puts those of us who benefit from such trials in league with the sponsors. I will present cases of recent overseas clinical trials to offer specific ethical and practical recommendations for pharmaceutical companies, and for patients who accept treatments developed through the exploitation of other persons.
Recommended Citation
Stark, Anna. "Concerning the Ethical Treatment of Human Subjects in Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials in the Developing World." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 9, 2012.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2012/oral-session-08/4
