Gj. Annas et Ma. Grodin, HUMAN-RIGHTS AND MATERNAL-FETAL HIV TRANSMISSION PREVENTION TRIALS INAFRICA, American journal of public health, 88(4), 1998, pp. 560-563
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.