Ethics and Health Research
Objectives
Students will acquire knowledge on the basic principles of bioethics applied to biomedical research. They will be able to identify and describe the generic challenges of a biomedical research study protocol and the difficulties of designing and implementing ethically sound study protocols, namely in special settings and vulnerable populations. They will develop skills to cope with these difficulties, in order to be able to produce a study protocol suitable for submission to an Ethics Committee.
General characterization
Code
5789001
Credits
2
Responsible teacher
Jorge Seixas
Hours
Weekly - 8
Total - 28
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Bibliography
• Beauchamp T, Childress J (2009) Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 6th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press. • Rivera, R., Borasky, D. (2009). Research Ethics Training Curriculum, 2nd Ed. Family Health International. • E6 Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. (1996) European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. • Marshall, P, A. (2007). Ethical challenges in study design and informed consent for health research in resource-poor settings. Special Topics in Social, Economic and Behavioural (SEB) Research report series; No. 5). WHO. • Ethical and Policy Issues in Research Involving Human Participants. (2001) National Bioethics Advisory Commission. Bethesda, USA. • (http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/nbac/human/oversumm.html) • Ethical Challenges of Research. e-Source Book, in e-Source Behavioral and Social Science Research. • http://www.esourceresearch.org/portals/0/uploads/documents/public/kelty_fullchapter.pdf • Current Issues in Research Ethics: Privacy and Confidentiality • http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/cire/pac/foundation/
Teaching method
The Unit is organized in lectures introducing the themes, followed by group discussion. Case studies will be presented and discussed in support of the learning objectives.
Evaluation method
Assessment will be continuous during the contact time. Students with a research project already defined will be asked to produce a Study Protocol to be submitted to an Ethics committee. For others, the analysis and discussion of a real-life case will be requested.
Subject matter
I. Historical aspects of the development of ethics applied to biomedical sciences. II. Basic ethical concepts in biomedical research involving human subjects (respect, beneficence and justice). III. Principles of clinical studies and clinical trials. IV. Contents of a Study Protocol. V. Essential elements of the Informed Consent form. VI. Submitting a Study Protocol to the Ethical Committee. VII. Ethical challenges in clinical studies in low and middle income countries.