From Johns Hopkins: Perspectives from South and East Asia on Clinical and Research Ethics

J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics. 2014 Apr;9(2):52-67.

Perspectives from South and East Asia on Clinical and Research Ethics.

Pratt B1, Van C, Cong Y, Rashid H, Kumar N, Ahmad A, Upshur R, Loff B.

Author information

• 1Johns Hopkins University (USA) University of Melbourne (Australia).

Abstract

A review was conducted of English-language peer-reviewed and gray literature on health and ethics written by authors from Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan. This was supplemented by the knowledge of co-authors who are involved in bioethics capacity building in these countries. Of the identified literature that focused on the application of Western principles, it largely discussed informed consent and revealed norms in clinical decision-making that include physician paternalism, family involvement in decision-making, and reluctance to provide information that might upset patients. It appears that Western ethical principles may be interpreted and applied in unexpected ways. The literature further indicates that, although there is some consistency with Western ideas, Islamic, Confucian, and Indian religious and philosophical traditions contain concepts not reflected in international guidance. Findings suggest scholars from these countries seek to enter into a bioethics dialogue with the potential to enrich and inform "international" frameworks.