Skip to main content
Log in

Distributive Justice and Clinical Trials in the Third World

  • Published:
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One of the arguments against conducting human subject trials inthe Third World adopts a distributive justice principle found ina commentary of the CIOM'S Eighth Guideline for internationalresearch on human subjects. Critics argue that non-participantmembers of the community in which the trials are conducted areexploited because sponsoring agencies do not ensure that theproducts developed have been made reasonably available to theseindividuals.I argue that the distributive principle's wording is too vagueand ambiguous to be used to criticize any trial. Furthermore,the mere fact that an experiment does not fulfill this particulardistributive justice principle does not entail that it isunethical.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Annas GJ, Grodin MA. Human rights and maternal-fetal HIV transmission prevention trials in Africa. American Journal of Public Health 1998; 88(4): 560–563.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Crouch RA, Arras, JD. AZT trials and tribulations. Hastings Center Report 1998; 28(6): 26–34.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Glantz LH, Annas GJ, Grodin MA, Mariner WK. Research in developing countries: Taking ‘benefit’ seriously. Hastings Center Report 1998; 28(6): 38–42.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects. Geneva: CIOMS, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bankowski Z, Levine RJ, eds. Ethics and Research on Human Subjects: International Guidelines. Geneva: CIOMS, 1993, p. 26.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Administration of Zidovudine during late pregnancy and delivery to prevent perinatal HIV transmission – Thailand, 1996–1998. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1998; 47(8): 151–154.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), National Institutes of Health, Agence Nationale de Recherche Sur Le Sida, “Joint Statement,” PRNewswire, Atlanta, GA, 18 February 1998.

  8. Judge Spotswood W. Robinson,III, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 19 May 1972. 464 Federal Reporter, 2nd series, pp. 772–796.

  9. Marx K. Capital, volume one and Capital, volume three. The Marx-Engels Reader. W. W. Norton & Company, 1978.

  10. American Hospital Association. A patient's bill of rights. Saturday Review of the Sciences 24 February 1973; 1: 22.

    Google Scholar 

  11. American Medical Association. Principles of medical ethics. American Medical News 1/8 August 1980: 9.

  12. The Nuremberg Code from “Permissible Medical Experiments.” Trials of War Criminals before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals under Control Council Law No. 10: Nuremberg, October 1946–April 1949. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, n.d., vol. 2, pp. 181–182.

  13. World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki. Journal of the American Medical Association 1997; 277: 925–926.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kant I. The Metaphysics of Morals (Mary Gregor, trans.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996, p. 174.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gorovitz S. Informed consent and patient autonomy. In: Callahan JC, ed. Ethical Issues in Professional Life, Vol. 184. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 182–188.

  16. Hill TE Jr. Servility and self-respect. Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life (Harcourt Brace College Publishers) 1997: 543–545.

  17. French HW. AIDS research in Africa: Juggling risks and hopes. New York Times, October 9, 1997, http://nytimes.qpass.com/qpass-archives?Q..oc!+10=wAAA+AIDS%20research%20in%20Africa: 1–5.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cooley, D. Distributive Justice and Clinical Trials in the Third World. Theor Med Bioeth 22, 151–167 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011452716028

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011452716028

Navigation