Ethical commentaries must be based on sound science

BMJ 1998;317:1594 ( 5 December )

Letters

Ethical commentaries must be based on sound science

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EDITOR $---$ It is unfortunate that the scientific basis of Savulescu's commentary on the ethics of the study by Parkins et al,in which infants were exposed to 15% oxygen, is so weak.¹ Savulescustates that evidence exists that exposure to hypoxia is relatedto sudden infant death; he refers to a study in piglets to supporthis assertion.² In fact, this study he cites shows no suchthing. Parkins et al cogently explain the scarcity of evidenceon the effects of exposure to 15%oxygen.

Savulescu also argues that piglets should be used as a model for infants. He is clearly unaware of the important differencesthat exist between species in terms of ventilatory responses tohypoxia; this is an area of debate in respiratory physiology.³For example, the depressant effect of hypoxia on the respiratorysystem of many animals is thought to be due to an action of . . . [Full text of this article]

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Effect of exposure to 15% oxygen on breathing patterns and oxygen saturation in infants: interventional study • Commentary: Safety of participants in non-therapeutic research must be ensured • Commentary: Ethical approval of study was warranted • Authors' reply: K J Parkins, C F Poets, L M O'Brien, V A Stebbens, D P Southall, Julian Savulescu, Vivian Hughes, K J Parkins, C F Poets, L M O'Brien, V A Stebbens, and D P Southall
BMJ 1998 316: 887-894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]