FIMA Year Book 2009 - Federation of Islamic Medical Associations

Ethics of Clinical Research:An Islamic PerspectiveHossam E. Fadel *AbstractMedical progress depends on clinical research which has to involve, at somepoint, human subjects. The human rights of research subjects must be protected.Ethical principles and guidelines have been developed by internationalorganizations; the World Medical Association (WMA) and the Councilfor International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS). The IslamicOrganization for Medical Sciences (IOMS), Kuwait, convened a meeting inCairo, Egypt 2004, and produced a document advancing an Islamic viewpointon these principles and guidelines.In this paper I discuss all these documents. The guidelines developed by CIOMSare in general agreement with Islamic principles i.e. respect for the person,bringing benefit, avoiding harm, and justice. However some differences exist towhich I alluded. I also added some personal opinions.Muslim physicians and scientists should get involved in clinical as well as othermedical research. It is fard kifāya (collective religious duty). They should befamiliar with the ethical principles and guidelines and abide by them in theirown research. Also, they should monitor externally sponsored research in theirown countries to ensure that these guidelines are followed.Keywords: Clinical research, ethics, Islam, Declaration of Helsinki, Council for InternationalOrganizations of Medical Sciences, Islamic Organization of Medical Sciences.With special permission to reprint from the Journal of Islamic Medical Association of NorthAmerica (JIMA).42;2010 - Page 59.Hossam E. Fadel, MD., PhD., FACOGMaternal Fetal Medicine.Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia,Augusta, GA, USAE-mail: hefadel@gmail.comFIMA YearBook 2009137