Chapter 7: Human Experimentation |
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Section 3. Presentation of Issues. | ||||
Questions:
Answers: https://depts.washington.edu/bhdept/ethics-medicine/bioethics-topics/detail/77 Purpose of Experimentation: To gain information and hopefully to use that information to assist people, to cure illnesses, to alleviate pain. Resources on Nonconsensual Human Experimentation http://www.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/composition/assignments/experiment.html
Types of Experiments Therapeutic- Intended for the benefit of those who are the subjects of the experiment Non therapeutic-not intended for the benefit of those who are the subjects of the experiment Codes Governing Research and Experimentation: There are National and International codes or guidelines International
National AMA Various Professional Societies
PHS 1966 5 Points
CONDITIONS for an experiment to proceed
INFORMED CONSENT
VULNERABLE SUBJECTS Children how old? what conditions? Parental Consent??? Retarded Mentally ill Those in PAIN Those in TOTAL Institutions Prisoners- rewards versus duress Ward Patients Military Service Students in Colleges/Universities Fetuses What about the use of Non-Human Animals in experimentation? They feel pain. VIEW: Non-Human Animals: Crash Course Philosophy #42EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN valid reliable minimize risk DOUBLE BLIND METHODOLOGY Medical Research versus Therapy Who Controls the Experiment?? Peer Review to legitimize research and protect subjects such peer review groups are often "rubber stamps" KEY QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW OF EXPERIMENT for APPROVAL 1. Is it worth the risk? 2. Is the information otherwise obtainable? 3. have non human animal experiments been done? 4. Is the experiment meeting scientific standards? 5. Do the experimenters have the proper background? Are they qualified? 6. Are the risks minimal? Have they been minimized? 7. Has the appropriate , competent, and independent peer review group approved? ============================================= Many of these experiments presented in this chapter to illustrate points are alike in two very important respects: they used as subjects the most vulnerable members of society, and the subjects themselves had no idea what the experiment was about. It would be easy to agree with some of the critics of experiments such as Willowbrook and the radiation studies using children and hold that the researchers performed acts that are morally reprehensible. On the other hand the medical researchers had reasons for conducting these experiments that at least they thought were convincing. If you now examine how the ethical theories could be applied in these cases it is possible to find that on some principles , e.g. Act-Utilitarian grounds , some of these experiments might be morally justifiable. If the aim is to minimize the disruption to society and bring about the greatest positive results for the mainstream majority then it would follow that on such grounds one ought to conduct research on the most vulnerable members of society. =============================== Ethical Theories: Utilitarianism: in general would approve as long as the benefits to society are clear, subjects are protected and compensated. Act Utilitarianism would permit research on vulnerable subjects to increase or protect the general welfare. Of course, the fact that Act-Utilitarian theories imply the moral permissibility of these experiments could be used to justify the experiments or reject Act-Utilitarian theories. Kantian: subjects must be fully competent, rational and autonomous and provide their informed consent for the experiment . Ross: similar to Kant Natural Law Theory: applies the principle of the Double Effect and Totality Rawls: permissive but would protect the vulnerable subjects, preserve liberty and provide advantage for the least well off. Hans Jonas, authorPhilosophical Reflections on Experimenting with Human Subjects http://www.sfu.ca/~andrewf/jonas.pdf Peter Singer, author
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