Abstract
This paper recounts the efforts of a Bioethics student to understand the experience of human subjects of medical research in Kenya. Although the endeavor resulted in more questions than answers, it served to highlight areas where the current system of protections has failed to secure the well-being of those involved. It concludes that, in addition to existing considerations, ethical review ought to include another kind of information: that which can be gained only from listening to the feelings and experiences related by subjects themselves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Editorial. The ethics industry. Lancet 1997;350:897.
IRB membership, Code of Federal Regulations 45 Sect. 46.107 (2001).
Lindegger G, Richter LM. HIV vaccine trials: Critical issues in informed consent. S Afr J of Sci 2000;96:313–317.
Davies K. Prostitutes offer AIDS vaccine hope. The Associated Press 1997 November 8.
Karuoya N. Poverty leading to prostitution. The Nation 1999 December 18.
World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. In: Adopted by the 18th WMA General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964 and amended by the 52nd WMA General Assembly, Edinburgh, Scotland, October 2000; Principle 22.
British Medical Association. Research and experimentation on humans. In: The Medical Profession and Human Rights. London: Zed Books; 2001. p. 205–240.
Makokha K. Prostitutes the losers in AIDS vaccine saga. The Nation 2000 October 20.
Carlin J. Hope for AIDS cure as prostitutes defy virus in the slums. The Observer 2003 November 23.
World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. In: Adopted by the 18th WMA General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964 and amended by the 52nd WMA General Assembly, Edinburgh, Scotland, October 2000; Principle 8.
Criteria for IRB approval of research, Code of Federal Regulations 45 Sect. 46.111 (a,3) (2001).
Lindegger G, Bull S. Ensuring consent in a developing country context [online] 2002 [cited 2004 January 5] Available from: http://www.scidev.net/Dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=policybrief ɛtDossier=5ɛtpolicy=31
Macklin R. After Helsinki: Unresolved issues in international research. Kennedy Inst Ethics J 2001;11(1):17–36.
Benatar SR, Singer PA. A new look at international research ethics. BMJ 2001;321:824–826.
London L. Ethical oversight of public health research: Can rules and IRBs make a difference in developing countries? Am J Public Health 2002;92(7):1079–1084.
Kaul R, Rowland-Jones SL, Kimani J, Dong T, Yang HB, Kiama P, et al. Late seroconversion in HIV-resistant Nairobi prostitutes despite pre-existing HIV-specific CD8+ responses. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2001;107(3):341–349.
Brunet-Jailly J. The ethics of clinical research in developing countries. IRB: Ethics and human research 1999;21(5):8–11.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, N. Out of the armchair: A bioethics student's search for practical knowledge in Kenya. J. Bioethical Inquiry 1, 20–26 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02448903
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02448903