Ethical Issues in Healthcare Research

The current ethical issues faced by the healthcare industry in medical research, are mostly pertaining to the fact that medical research has now shifted to low-income, developing countries, from the developed countries, where it was earlier carried out. The main reason for the shifting of this medical research to foreign sites is the ease and quickness, not to mention less investment, that is needed to carry out the trials in such countries compared to the richer countries. Also, the ethical regulations and approvals are less strict and hence, easier to get by in these developing countries.
It is also easier to recruit participants for trials in low-income countries as deprived people are more likely to accept such offers by the rich pharmaceutical companies, in exchange for food and money. An ethical issue that the healthcare industry faces is about “informed consent” by the participants, i.e., the participants are informed about the research, drugs and the effects it can have on their bodies, prior to carrying out the trials. Low standards of care, that are taken by the pharmaceutical companies, while conducting research in low-income countries, is an important ethical issue in healthcare research these days.