Title
Protecting Communities in Pharmacogenetic and Pharmacogenomic Research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2004
Source
The Pharmacogenomics Journal
Volume
4
Issue
1
First Page
9
Last Page
16
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500219
Abstract
The existing EELS literature has usefully identified the scope of ethical issues posed by pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research. The time has come for in-depth examination of particular ethical issues. The involvement of racial and ethnic communities in pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research is contentious precisely because it touches upon the science and politics of studying racial and ethnic difference. To date, the ethics literature has not seriously taken account of the fact that such research impinges upon the interests of communities, and that taking such interests seriously requires that we both protect and empower communities in research. We propose a framework that rests upon the recognition that communities are heterogeneous human associations and differing policies are appropriate for differing communities. Community consent and consultation and community consultation alone are neither appropriate nor required for all pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research. Rather, application of these policy protections must take into account particulars of both planned research and the communities involved.
Notes
Dr. Charles Weijer is currently a faculty member at The University of Western Ontario.