Lecture 22 ethical issues in Epidemiology.ppt

Lecture 22 ethical issues in Epidemiology.ppt

• 1.
  EPIDEMIOLOGY LECTURE NOTES ETHICAL ISSSUESOF EPIDEMIOLOGY
• 2.
  INTRODUCTION ● The practice ofepidemiology requires adherence to the basic principles of biomedical ethics and carries special obligations to individuals and communities, not only those participating in studies but also others whose health may be protected or improved by application of the results.
• 3.
  CONT... ● People who havebeen exposed to a health hazard should realize that epidemiological studies carried out on them may not improve their personal situation but may help to protect thousands of other people.
• 4.
  CONT... ● Free and voluntaryconcert must be obtained from participants in studies and they must retain the right to withdraw at any time. ● However it may prove impracticable for consent to be given for access to routine medical records.
• 5.
  CONT... ● Epidemiologists must respectpersonal privacy and confidentiality at all times. ● They have an obligation to tell communities what they are doing and why, and to transmit the results of studies, and their significance, to the communities involved.
• 6.
  CONT... ● All proposals forepidemiological studies should be submitted to properly constituted institutional ethics committees before work begins.