Describe on ethics related to healthcare

1. Ethics in health
research
Ranjitha M
Kristu Jayanti College
Bangalore

2. O Ethics in health research is a critical aspect of
medical science that involves adherence to
certain principles and values to ensure that
the research is conducted in a responsible,
respectful, and safe manner.
O Health research involves human subjects and
their health, which can be vulnerable and
sensitive, making ethics in research a vital
element to protect the participants' rights and
well-being.

3. key ethical principles that
guide health research:
O Respect for persons: This principle requires that
researchers treat participants with respect,
recognizing their autonomy and the need for
informed consent.
O Beneficence: This principle requires researchers to
minimize harm and maximize benefits to participants.
O Non-maleficence: This principle requires researchers
to do no harm to participants, minimizing risks and
ensuring that the risks are justified by the potential
benefits of the study.
O Justice: This principle requires that the benefits and
burdens of research be distributed fairly among
participants.

4. O Ethical considerations in health research include obtaining
informed consent, protecting participants' privacy and
confidentiality, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity,
minimizing harm and risks, ensuring equity in recruitment
and participation, and ensuring that research is conducted
with integrity and transparency.
O Ethical review committees or Institutional Review Boards
(IRBs) are responsible for evaluating research proposals to
ensure compliance with ethical principles and guidelines.
O Adherence to ethical principles in health research is crucial
for maintaining public trust in scientific research and the
development of effective and safe treatments and
interventions that improve human health and wellbeing.

5. Examples of how ethical
principles are applied in health
research
O Adhering to ethical principles is essential
to protect the rights, safety, and wellbeing
of research participants and to ensure that
research results are reliable and
trustworthy.

6. O Informed consent: Researchers must obtain informed
consent from participants, ensuring that they
understand the research's purpose, risks, benefits,
and their right to withdraw from the study at any time.
This includes obtaining consent from individuals who
may have limited capacity, such as children or
individuals with cognitive disabilities, where additional
safeguards are required.
O Confidentiality and privacy: Researchers must protect
participants' privacy and confidentiality by ensuring
that personal information is kept confidential and
secure. Participants' identifiable information should
only be accessed by authorized personnel, and data
should be de-identified when possible.

7. O Minimizing harm and risks: Researchers must minimize
harm and risks to participants by designing studies that
avoid or minimize potential harms, such as physical or
psychological harm. Participants should be monitored for
adverse effects and offered appropriate care if necessary.
O Equity and justice: Researchers must ensure that
participants are recruited and selected in a fair and
equitable manner, with consideration given to diversity and
representation in the study population.
O Integrity and transparency: Researchers must conduct
research with honesty, integrity, and transparency, reporting
all results, including negative results. Research findings
must be communicated accurately and honestly to the
public.

8. Some ethical breaches
O One notable case was the scandal
involving the geneticist He Jiankui in
2018, who announced that he had used
CRISPR gene-editing technology to
create the world's first genetically edited
babies. He's work sparked international
outrage and raised numerous ethical
concerns, including the risk of unintended
consequences and long-term health
effects on the children.

9. O Another recent case involved a large
international study called "Solidarity," which
was designed to investigate potential
treatments for COVID-19. In October 2020,
the World Health Organization temporarily
suspended the study after an investigation
found that some participants in several
countries were being given doses of
hydroxychloroquine and other experimental
treatments without proper consent or
oversight.

10. O These cases highlight the importance of
upholding ethical standards in health
research, including informed consent,
transparency, and responsible use of
emerging technologies. It's crucial for
researchers, institutions, and regulators to
maintain high ethical standards to protect
the well-being and rights of study
participants and to ensure the integrity of
scientific research.