The issue of justice is becoming a growing concern as more and more researchers / research sponsors from developed nations are carrying out research in low or middle-income countries.
Injustice can arise if risky interventions are initially tested on poorer or less privileged populations due to convenience and low costs, but once they are proven safe and effective, only offered to richer populations that can afford them.
Injustice also exists in the ‘double standards’ that have been observed when researchers from developed countries conduct research in developing countries, often because developing countries have less stringent regulation and oversight of research. This has led to studies being carried out in manners that would not have been approved in developed countries.
An article in The Economist ‘Recent events highlight an unpleasant scientific practice: ethics dumping’ (2019) provided several case examples from China, Africa and India. (10-minutes read)
In such contexts, it takes the concerted efforts of both foreign and local researchers, research institutions and ethics committees to advocate for the fair and rightful treatment of all research subjects. (14,36,37)
Clinical Research Malaysia. Make the choice: Quality Clinical Trials Site is Essential | Clinical Research Malaysia [Internet]. 2015. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=282&v=2_-x-e8qgyI
wemosnl. Wemos Film on Clinical Drug Trials in Developing Countries [Internet]. 2008. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMnvUyCPuE
Recent events highlight an unpleasant scientific practice: ethics dumping. The Economist [Internet]. 2019 Jan 31; Available from: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/01/31/recent-events-highlight-an-unpleasant-scientific-practice-ethics-dumping