Bioethics in the COVID-19 Pandemic Research: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

As all other aspects in times of the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, carrying-out quality clinical research has been challenging. Many well-established paradigms have shifted as a consequence of the rapid demand for new knowledge. New treatments are fast-moving, informed consent forms are difficult to obtain, a competitive invitation from researchers to participate in different studies is common, and non-COVID-19 research protocols are suffering continuity. However, these challenges should not imply taking shortcuts or accepting deficiencies in bioethical standards, but rather enhance the alertness for rigorous ethical approaches despite these less than ideal circumstances. In this manuscript, we point out some interrogates in COVID-19 research and outline possible strategies to overcome the difficult task to continue with high-quality research without violating the ethical principles. (REV INVEST CLIN. [AHEAD OF PRINT]

Visión bioética en la cuarentena en el contexto del Covid-19: una revisión integradora

“…En este sentido, estudios de predicción de mortalidad, como el de Melo y colaboradores 18 y el de Walker y colaboradores 5 fundamentan las bases para la toma de decisiones. González Duarte 19 , Kaufer-Horwitz y Aguilar-Salinas 20 discuten los dilemas involucrados en las políticas públicas dirigidas al Covid-19 que fueron basadas en el principio del "bien mayor" al elegir la intervención que presenta el menor riesgo en detrimento de la autonomía individual.…”

Visão bioética na quarentena no contexto da covid-19: revisão integrativa

“…Nesse sentido, estudos de predição de mortalidade, como o de Melo e colaboradores 18 e o de Walker e colaboradores 5 forneceram subsídios para a tomada de decisão. González-Duarte 19 , Kaufer-Horwitz e Aguilar-Salinas 20 discutem dilemas envolvidos nas políticas públicas voltadas à covid-19, que foram adotadas com base no princípio do "bem maior", por meio da escolha da intervenção que apresenta menor risco, em detrimento da autonomia individual.…”