Presenter Information
Lorenzo Selvaggi, M.S., Duquesne University Center for Global Health Ethics
Abstract
After the many global tragedies of the early 20th century, an emerging sense of social and moral urgency catalyzed the nations of the world to attempt to develop and promulgate ethical standards for clinical research. Seminal documents such as The Nuremberg Code, The Declaration of Helsinki, and The Belmont Report attempted to bridge the chasm that allowed such tragedies. The Belmont Report, specifically, pointed towards universal ethical principles that later evolved into what is widely known now as the four core bioethical tenets: beneficence, the duty to promote the welfare and good of others; nonmaleficence, the obligation to avoid causing harm; justice, the requirement of equal and fair treatment; and autonomy, the right of individuals to make independent, informed choices. More nuanced guidance would later be refined from the four principles for clinical research in the 21st century, such as those outlined in The Oxford Textbook of Clinical Research Ethics. However, despite the ubiquitous nature of these principles, they have disconnected instructions on the inherent social responsibilities of clinical research. To fill this void, Catholic Social Teachings founded on the three-fold cornerstone of human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity offer a basis for a new principle of social responsibility. Human dignity, the first of the three cornerstones, is the belief that all human life possesses intrinsic, inviolable value. Solidarity is the overarching interdependence among all humans on one another, and finally, subsidiarity is the coordination of society to support the lives of local communities. Therefore, this research assesses the essential components of clinical research while also exploring the foundational documents that led to the principles approach; by doing so, it highlights the deficiency in these principles' ability to address social stewardship. To address this apparent gap, it proposes a new principle of social responsibility built upon Catholic Social Teachings. Incorporating the new principle of social responsibility will enrich our current ethical framework for clinical research, and it is imperative to truly fulfill the goals set by humanity after World War II.
School
McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts
Advisor
Joris Gielen, Ph.D
Submission Type
Paper
Publication Date
March 2024
Catholic Ethics in the World of Clinical Research: A Study of Social Responsibility
After the many global tragedies of the early 20th century, an emerging sense of social and moral urgency catalyzed the nations of the world to attempt to develop and promulgate ethical standards for clinical research. Seminal documents such as The Nuremberg Code, The Declaration of Helsinki, and The Belmont Report attempted to bridge the chasm that allowed such tragedies. The Belmont Report, specifically, pointed towards universal ethical principles that later evolved into what is widely known now as the four core bioethical tenets: beneficence, the duty to promote the welfare and good of others; nonmaleficence, the obligation to avoid causing harm; justice, the requirement of equal and fair treatment; and autonomy, the right of individuals to make independent, informed choices. More nuanced guidance would later be refined from the four principles for clinical research in the 21st century, such as those outlined in The Oxford Textbook of Clinical Research Ethics. However, despite the ubiquitous nature of these principles, they have disconnected instructions on the inherent social responsibilities of clinical research. To fill this void, Catholic Social Teachings founded on the three-fold cornerstone of human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity offer a basis for a new principle of social responsibility. Human dignity, the first of the three cornerstones, is the belief that all human life possesses intrinsic, inviolable value. Solidarity is the overarching interdependence among all humans on one another, and finally, subsidiarity is the coordination of society to support the lives of local communities. Therefore, this research assesses the essential components of clinical research while also exploring the foundational documents that led to the principles approach; by doing so, it highlights the deficiency in these principles' ability to address social stewardship. To address this apparent gap, it proposes a new principle of social responsibility built upon Catholic Social Teachings. Incorporating the new principle of social responsibility will enrich our current ethical framework for clinical research, and it is imperative to truly fulfill the goals set by humanity after World War II.