BMJ 2001;322:747-748 ( 31 March )

Editorials

Beyond Helsinki: a vision for global health ethics

Improving ethical behaviour depends on strengthening capacity

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The fifth revision of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki, published in October 2000, sets out international standards for conducting medical research with human subjects.¹ Revisions of this or any other research ethics code are unlikely to make research more ethical throughout the world, however, without some means of strengthening capacity to promote and implement such standards.

Strengthened capacity in research ethics is needed in both developed and developing countries, though the need is particularly acute in developing countries. A recent Washington Post investigation into research in developing countries revealed "a booming, poorly regulated testing system that is dominated by private interests and that far too often betrays its promises to patients and consumers."²

Research in developing countries was a flash point of the fifth revision of Helsinki because the declaration retains the requirement that new treatments should be tested against the "best current" treatment. Critics argue that this standard does not allow . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Revised Declaration of Helsinki

Adnan A Hyder, Delon Human, Francis Crawley, Carel IJsselmuiden, Peter A Singer, and Solomon R Benatar
BMJ 2001 323: 283. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Crump, J. A., Sugarman, J. (2008). Ethical Considerations for Short-term Experiences by Trainees in Global Health. JAMA 300: 1456-1458 [Full text]  
• Fitzgerald, D. W., Wasunna, A. (2005). Away from Exploitation and Towards Engagement: An Ethical Compass for Medical Researchers Working in Resource-Poor Countries. J Law Med Ethics 33: 559-565  
• Singer, P. A, Bowman, K. W (2002). Quality care at the end of life. BMJ 324: 1291-1292 [Full text]  
• Allebeck, P. (2002). The revised Helsinki declaration: Good for patients? Good for public health?. Scand J Public Health 30: 1-4  
• Singer, P. A., Daar, A. S. (2001). Harnessing Genomics and Biotechnology to Improve Global Health Equity. Science 294: 87-89 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Hyder, A. A, Human, D., Crawley, F., IJesselmuiden, C., Singer, P. A, Benatar, S. R (2001). Revised Declaration of Helsinki. BMJ 323: 283-283 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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Not a bad idea

Frank Leavitt
bmj.com, 30 Mar 2001 [Full text]

Privileged people & pie in the sky

David E Bratt
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2001 [Full text]

Re: Not a bad idea

Peter Singer
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Research ethics a developing country priority?

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bmj.com, 2 Apr 2001 [Full text]

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bmj.com, 4 Apr 2001 [Full text]

Best solutions to big problems?

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Capacity development in ethics - reconstructing the goals

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No Place Like Home

Karen J Maschke
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Re: Best solutions to big problems?

Peter Singer
bmj.com, 6 Apr 2001 [Full text]

Re: Capacity development in ethics - reconstructing the goals

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bmj.com, 7 Apr 2001 [Full text]

No Place Like Home, indeed

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Bridge the existing divide between North-South bio-ethical philosophies

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Priorities

Udo Schuklenk
bmj.com, 19 Apr 2001 [Full text]

Re: Priorities

Peter Singer
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2001 [Full text]

Teaching is one of the priorities for poor countries

Luis Justo
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2001 [Full text]

Re: Teaching is one of the priorities for poor countries

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Canadian Leadership

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bmj.com, 26 Apr 2001 [Full text]

Re: Canadian Leadership

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bmj.com, 27 Apr 2001 [Full text]

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