MJA
MJA

Two faces of research ethics

Stephen R Leeder
Med J Aust 2005; 182 (5): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06661.x
Published online: 28 April 2004

Clinical trials of new medications conducted in developing countries first provoked comment in 1997, when a study of relatively low dose AZT, given late in pregnancy to HIV-positive mothers about to give birth, was compared with treatment with a placebo. By then we knew that high-dose AZT (expensive) given for a longer period during pregnancy had positive consequences for the newborn child. The idea of not treating the controls caused uproar.

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.