PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Arda, B AU - Aciduman, A AU - Johnston, J C TI - A randomised controlled trial of ribavirin in Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever: ethical considerations AID - 10.1136/medethics-2011-100107 DP - 2012 Feb 01 TA - Journal of Medical Ethics PG - 117--120 VI - 38 IP - 2 4099 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/2/117.short 4100 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/2/117.full SO - J Med Ethics2012 Feb 01; 38 AB - The randomised controlled trial (RCT) constitutes a quantitative, comparative, controlled study of a particular treatment, and provides invaluable evidence regarding its pharmacotherapeutic efficacy. These studies are generally predicated upon the ethical principle of clinical equipoise. However, this may be insufficient to justify withholding treatment from a control group while assessing drug therapy in a potentially fatal disease. Thus, the criteria for randomisation, informed consent methodology and timing, and consideration of treatment options in such a scenario remain the province of medical ethics. This paper addresses the need for an RCT of ribavirin in the treatment of Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever, and highlights underlying ethical concerns in light of the current medical, virological and ethical literature.