E-DRUG: Cotrimoxazol in paediatric HIV, ethics and standards of care
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[crossposted from DRUGINFO with thanks; WB]
Hi all
This week's Lancet provides a wonderful teaching case for an ethics class on the problems with placebo-controlled trials, interpreting the Helsinki code and considering the issue of "standard of care". A letter and a reply are below, followed by the original abstract of the study in question. This also illustrates the complicated link between gudelines and ethical research - an experimental approach which varies from that contained in a guidelines, which may not be based on adequate evidence but represent an expert opinion only, may not necessarily be unethical.
regards
Andy
Andy Gray MSc(Pharm) FPS
* Senior Lecturer
Dept of Therapeutics and Medicines Management
* Study Pharmacist
Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research
in South Africa (CAPRISA)
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine
University of KwaZulu-Natal
PBag 7 Congella 4013
South Africa
Tel: +27-31-2604334/4298 Fax: +27-31-2604338
email: graya1@ukzn.ac.za or andy@gray.za.net