Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2008.41.5.339

Informed Consent' in Public Health Activities: Based on the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, UNESCO  

Meng, Kwang-Ho (Department of Preventive Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health / v.41, no.5, 2008 , pp. 339-344 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives : The objective of this paper is to discuss the importance of obtaining informed consent for conducting epidemiological studies and public health activities, based on the Report of the UNESCO's Working Group on Informed Consent. Methods : The Report of the UNESCO's Working Group on Informed Consent was reviewed and discussed in connection with the ethical considerations of public health activities and epidemiological research. Results : It was at the Nuremberg Trial for the German war criminals of the Second World War that the principle of 'consent' was first stated as a consequence of the medical abuses carried out during the War. As a result of the Trial, the Nuremberg Code came out in 1947. Since then, various international declarations or ethical principles on 'informed consent' have been developed and published. These ethical principles on 'informed consent' have mostly to do with the clinical research that involves human subjects, and not with epidemiological studies and public health activities. However, UNESCO recently issued a comprehensive Report on Informed Consent based on the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights adopted in 2005, and this included detailed guidelines on informed consent in epidemiological studies and public health activities. Conclusions : Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights emphasizes the principle of autonomy to protect the human rights of the human subjects involved in any public health activities and epidemiological research. As a practical guideline, obtaining informed consent is strongly recommended.
Keywords
Informed consent; Public health; Epidemio-logical studies; UNESCO; IBC report on Consent; Universal declaration on bioethics and human rights;
Citations & Related Records

Times Cited By SCOPUS : 1
연도 인용수 순위
1 Callahan D, Jennings B. Ethics and public health: Forging a strong relationship. Am J Public Health 2002; 92(2): 169-176   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Coughlin SS. Ethical issues in epidemiologic research and public health practice. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 2006; 3: 16   DOI   PUBMED
3 Beauchamp TL, Childress JF. Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 1996
4 Bernard C. An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine. Greene HC, translator. New York: Dove Publication; 1957
5 The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. The Belmont Report Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Bethesda: National Institute of Health; 1979
6 Gunderson M. Justifying a principle of informed consent: A case study in autonomybased ethics. Public Aff Q 1990; 4(3): 249-165   PUBMED
7 Lilienfeld AM. Foundations of Epidemiology, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 1980
8 Beauchamp TL. Moral foundations. In: Coughlin SS, Beauchamp TL, editors. Ethics and Epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press; 1996. p.24-52
9 Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. International Guidelines for Ethical Review of Epidemiological Studies. Geneva: CIOMS; 1991
10 Leichter H. Free to Be Foolish. Princeton: Princeton University Press; 1992
11 IBC/UNESCO. Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. Paris: UNESCO; 2006. [cited 2008 July 4]. Avaliable from: URL:http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/00 1461/146180e.pdf
12 IBC/UNESCO. International Declaration on the Human Genetic Data (16 October 2003). Paris: UNESCO; 2003. [cited 2008 July 4]. Avaliable from: URL:http://portal.unesco.org/ en/ev.php-URL_ID=17720&URL_DO =DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
13 Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. International Guidelines for Biomedical Research involving Human Subjects. Geneva: CIOMS; 2002
14 World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines for Investigation of Human Cases of Avian Influenza A(H5N1). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2007
15 Winslow CE. Public health at crossroads. Am J Public Health 1926; 16(11): 1075-1085   DOI
16 International Bioethics Committee. Report of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO (IBC) on Consent. Paris: UNESCO; 2007. [cited 2008 July 4]. Avaliable from: URL:http://portal. unesco.org/shs/en/files/11079/11909862521CIB 14_Consent_en.pdf/CIB14%2BConsent_en.pdf
17 Rickhan PP. Human Experimentation. Code of ethics of the World Medical Association. Edclaration of Helsinki. Br Med J 1964; 2(5402): 177   DOI   PUBMED
18 IBC/UNESCO. Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (11 November 1997). Paris: UNESCO; 1997. [cited 2008 July 4]. Avaliable from: URL:http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php- URL_ID=13177&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&U RL_SECTION=201.html
19 Lappe M. Ethics and Public Health. In: Norwalk LJ, editor. Maxcy-Rosenau Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Norwalk: Appleton- Century-Crofts; 1986