Vulnerability in Clinical Trials

Abstract

Vulnerability means that an individual or groups of individuals lack the ability to fully and independently protect their own interests and so are vulnerable to being harmed or wronged. The word vulnerability stems from the Latin vulner are, which means to wound. 19 October 2005 is an important day for bioethics. On this date the UN member states adopted the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human right. Article 8 of the declaration addresses the topics discussed here-"vulnerability" and "vulnerable groups". Different approaches to define vulnerable populations are Categorical approach and Contextual approach. Sources of vulnerability are Poverty and race, Social networks and lack of social support, Personal limitations, Physical location. In India there are multiple socioeconomic disadvantages that members of particular groups experience which limits their access to health and health care. The task of identifying the vulnerable groups is not an easy one. Some of the prominent factors on the basis of which individuals or members of groups are discriminated in India, i.e., structure factor, age, disability, mobility, stigma and discrimination that act as barriers to health and health care. The vulnerable groups that face discrimination include Women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Children, Aged, Disabled, Poor migrants, People living with HIV/AIDS and Sexual Minorities.