 "Photo: Dawn Jones-Garcia")
Caregivers of a 46-year-old mentally retarded woman at high risk for developing breast cancer took her to a cancer research clinic for enrollment in a breast cancer prevention study. She fulfilled all the criteria for which researchers were looking, but did not have the capacity to consent to participation. Would it be ethical for scientists to use her in the study?
After methodical consideration, researcher Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel said yes, and his lecture at UT Monday explained his eight-step approach to the ethical study of human subjects in scientific research, such as in the case of the mentally retarded woman.
Emanuel, an oncology doctor and chair of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, encouraged his audience to think about ethical research in terms of respecting participants and including them in every aspect of the study.
"Every trial, every case has the potential to exploit its subjects," Emanuel said.
The eight facets of Emanuel's model include collaborative participation, social value, scientific validity, fair subject selection, favorable risk-benefit ratio, independent review, informed consent and respect for subjects.
Emanuel discussed each of his ideas individually and acknowledged that conflict may arise between the different values.
Scientists must find a balance and allow the guidelines to change depending on each case, he said.
Emanuel's own ethics were put to the test in the case of the mentally retarded patient.
Although she could have been replaced by a different participant, Emanuel evaluated her risk-benefit ratio and decided she would likely benefit from the cancer prevention study.
"The case falls under fair subject selection," he said. "The only reason to exclude her was her disability, which would have been discrimination."
Chase Krumpelman, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student, said he was most impressed by Emanuel's education in both medicine and philosophy.
Krumpelman said Emanuel's guidelines outlined different shades of gray and the various paths researchers can take to reach an ethical decision.
Roxana Capper, a cell and molecular biology graduate student, said she found Emanuel's lecture applicable to all areas of science.
"As a scientist, it is crucial to be aware of scientific ethics in the field," Capper said. "It creates more objective science."
Be the first to comment on this article!