Biomedical research and vulnerability: a study on responsibility of health professionals in research involving human beings

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.20143802228236

Abstract

The present article is the result of a bibliographical survey that seeks to present, by using a methodology based on the
hypothetical-deductive method, to present a reflection on the biotechnological advances taking in consideration the vulnerability
of the individuals submitted to researches involving human beings in Latin America, especially regarding the
limitations of health professionals’ actions and their liability. The basis of this works is the assumption that it is impossible
to separate science from ethics. For this work’s purposes we consider health professionals to be everyone involved in scientific
investigations, from the scientist responsible for the initial project to the members of the Ethics Committees which
have the power either to approve or not research projects. It has been noticed that recent social developments created a
great number of documents aiming at establishing boundaries to the actions of health professionals in the biomedical investigation
field, documents which however have showed themselves incapable of protecting the rights of the individuals
involved. The conclusion extracted from the present research is that health professionals must have their actions guided
and limited by the Ethics Codes related to their professional areas but also that there must be a legal regulation that takes
into account the diversity and vulnerability of Latin Americans in order to make possible holding referred professionals
liable and thus protecting the individuals involved.