HUMAN-RIGHTS AND MATERNAL-FETAL HIV TRANSMISSION PREVENTION TRIALS INAFRICA

The human rights issues raised by the conduct of maternal-fetal human immunodeficiency virus transmission trials in Africa are not unique to either acquired immunodeficency syndrome or Africa, but public discus sion of these trials presents an opportunity for the United States and other wealthy nations to take the rights and welfare of impoverished populations seriously. The central issue at stake when developed count ries perform research on subjects in developing countries is exploitat ion. The only way to prevent exploitation of a research population is to insist not only that informed consent be obtained but also that, sh ould an intervention be proven beneficial, the intervention will be de livered to the impoverished population. Human rights are universal and cannot be compromised solely on the basis of beliefs or practices of any one country or group. The challenge to the developed countries is to implement programs to improve the health of the people in developin g countries both by improving public health infrastructure and by deli vering effective drugs and vaccines to the people.