Adnan Alkudsi
Abdullah Abdulrazak
Aiden Ganapathy
El Camino High School
Development of Biologic Drugs
During the process of developing a drug, researchers attempt to respect the rights and values of people throughout their work. The researchers give the opportunity to volunteer for testing available to everyone. At the same time researchers respect the safety of the volunteers by being responsible for the product. They would be disrespecting the privacy of their patients if they prescribed them a drug without making sure it is safe and has minimal side effects. They also would want to make sure the patient is well aware of these side effects. This puts the choice and freedom in the hands of the volunteer or the patient themselves.
An example of a situation where people’s ethics were thought to be disrespected is in the 2014 outbreak of Ebola. Zmapp was given to American volunteers instead of patients in Africa. This outraged some people as they thought the patients in Africa were the priority. Also, this drug hasn’t gone through clinical testing which means that the few patients who were lucky enough to use it, have had their privacy and safety violated without realizing it. However, in this case, we are so desperate for the drug that anything that shows signs of promise is in for a great demand. Controversy resulted from these actions. In such situation, it is important that the final decision be reviewed to make sure that the rights of people are respected. This new technology will benefit the patients by providing the hope of a cure but could harm the government because it is very expensive and difficult to make.
The advantage to giving the patient all the information and explaining all the negative options for that treatment, the decision of the patient is theirs and they are completely responsible for it. The FDA do an acceptable job of respecting people’s rights and values by making sure that a drug passes 3 phases, and continuous testing on mice and volunteers before it is available for marketing. If the FDA didn’t meet these standards, they would be responsible to any major side effects they didn’t take note of.
People protest to give their opinion. Science works that way too; the opinion of the patients and their Safety must be respected on top of anything else.
Doctor's must make sure that their patients completely understand the treatment they are receiving and to consider the patient's concerns. Doing so, the Doctor is then respecting the rights of the patient.
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues
This is one of the volunteers that received the treatment.