Ethical Issues in Human Drug Research: Pros, Cons, and Response Plan

Running head: Introduction to Research 1
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
Student Name
Institution

Introduction to Research 2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................2
2. Background of the research...................................................................................................................2
3. Pros and cons of research.......................................................................................................................3
3.1 Pros of human clinical trials research..................................................................................................3
3.2 Cons of pharmacological research.......................................................................................................3
4. Ethical issues in human drug research...................................................................................................4
4.1 Ethical issues........................................................................................................................................4
4.2 Integrity issues.....................................................................................................................................5
4.3 Safety issues.........................................................................................................................................5
4.4 Risk issues............................................................................................................................................6
5. Response plan and solution to the issues and risks................................................................................6
6. Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................8
7. References............................................................................................................................................10

Introduction to Research 3
1. Introduction
Human drug trials have been an issue of concern for a time in history with many arguing
for or against the research. The bottom line is the ethical issues that are tied to the practice since
the research uses a human being as the subject for the experiments. The purpose of this research
is to explore human drug trials (pharmacological research) in ethics. Some of the expected
results include pros and cons of the research, ethical issues, risk issues, safety issues and integrity
issues. The research also seeks to presents response action on these issues with the solution to
these issues as the final aspect of the research. Therefore the research in totality looks into ethical
issues within the pharmacological research involving human subject.
2. Background of the research
Ethics is a broad area that affects nearly every aspect of daily life as it defines the moral
and acceptable code or standard of practice in the particular field. Pharmacological research
forms an important step in the clinical investigation leading to the production of a drug that treats
a specific disease or clinical situation. The research uses the human subject for trials and this
may involve taking of drugs, surgery or organ donation. Clinical trials that involve human
subject require high caution and ethical considerations. The research may also include data
collection and analysis before reporting on the result of the trial. For instance, in Australia,
various drug trials have been conducted according to Australian Clinical Trial (2016). Cancer
trials, for example, take more than 10years, one such trial is ALTTO (a study comparing
Trastuzumab and Lapatinib (a new drug)). The research in ethics that investigate human drug
trials serve the purpose of highlighting the pros and cons of pharmacological research, ethical
issues, integrity issues, risk issues and response action coupled with a solution to such issues.

Introduction to Research 4
The expected results include various ethical issues in pharmacological research and the expected
solutions to such issues (Nardini 2014, pp 387).
3. Pros and cons of research
3.1 Pros of human clinical trials research
There are many different advantages or benefits of human drug trial research as this gives
rise to a new treatment or improve existing treatment. Firstly, the research helps others to get
treatment for a particular disease (Howick 2011, pp 18–31). The drug trials though have ethical
issues, has a high potential for treatment for the specific clinical condition under investigation.
Pharmacological research is helpful for getting treatment for clinical situations that has not be
treated or those conditions that need improved treatment. Secondly, the pharmacological
research helps in improvement of future treatment for the specific disease. Some biomedical
research needs further improvement and this can be done through continuous research. Elements
of treatment such as organs that are used in pharmacological research are critical for future
research and medical improvement. Thirdly, pharmacological research has the potential of
improving prevention and cure of some deadly diseases (Maitland & Schilsky 2011, pp 365-81).
3.2 Cons of pharmacological research
Pharmacological research may be associated with some disadvantages that need serious
improvement. Firstly, the research may not lead to actual treatment as this is just an experiment
that is still progressive. Some trials may produce a result that is not as expected and therefore
discarded as treatment may also not better than the previous treatment (Deng, Hanna, Dalakas &
Merkies 2012, pp 348-52). In such case, the client may feel used up without any advantage of