Healthcare and medical field are critically important, and the personnel who work in these areas can affect many people in various ways. Medical research is crucial because it is the only way medical professionals can see what type of treatment options are available for the sick. This also means these patients play an essential role as experimental subjects. It is, therefore, evident that unverified drugs can be used for the patients who do not have other medical options because the medication is able to assist them.
Ethical Question, Theories, and Moral Principles
There are various reasons why patients should have the right to decide if they would like to use the drugs which have not been proven effective when they do not have any other treatment options. In regards to ethical theories and moral principles, one can apply Immanuel Kant’s Theory. It states that an action either right or wrong does not rely on its consequences, but on whether or not it fulfills the required duty. Kant believed that ethics is a component which is associated with the total accountability to follow and observe unreserved moral laws (Anscombe, n.d.).
These laws have to apply to all individuals who are rational, regardless of what their feelings and requirements are (Oduwole & Fayemi, 2016). It means that, irrespective of the consequences, actions are not judged as right or wrong; the outcome would depend more on whether or not the individual’s duty was fulfilled. Therefore, if a patient was given an unproven drug, doctors or health care experts would not be considered as being correct or mistaken, as long as they fulfil their duty as doctors.
The Principle of Informed Consent
Similarly, educating patients about the usage of these drugs is critical. Informed consent is a significant topic in the healthcare field. It is a process where a healthcare provider or a professional in the medical area educates or informs a patient about the benefits, risks, and alternatives of a specific or given procedure. It is also believed that the patient has to acknowledge and understand the information given to them. Thereafter, they can make an informed and voluntary decision on whether or not they would like to proceed with the procedure.
Costs and Benefits
Apart from educating these patients, it is also advisable to compare the cost and the benefits that will be derived from such drugs because it will determine which option one will take. Experimental drugs’ potential expenses can pose a risk, as patients might spend more on frequent visits to their doctors.
Moreover, insurance companies are not able to cover miscellaneous overheads (Ahle, 2019). Therefore, unproven drugs may affect both the sick and the people who take care of them in terms of expenses. However, some of the benefits are that such drugs could cure the patient or aid in managing the condition. Additionally, unverified drugs’ success could give hope to other patients and researchers. Therefore, looking at costs and benefits, one should be able to make an informed decision which will favor them.
Arguments in Favor of and Against
Nonetheless, in the healthcare field, some experts are against using of the unproven drugs, by claiming that they are unethical and potentially dangerous, as they may cause more harm than good. This is because the information about their efficiency is not convincingly clear. Those who support think it is safe to use such drugs and that they could save lives and families from stress. They claim that the unverified drugs may assist in reducing or managing the disease.
For instance, during the outbreak of Ebola in Western African countries in 2014, experimental drugs were used in order to stop the pandemic. Researchers came to a conclusion that it was ethical to employ those drugs, as the situation was critical (Ebunoluwa & Kareem, 2016). Especially, regarding the fact that relatives gave signed the informed consent for all the procedures. It is, therefore, evident that the debate on the application of this medication will continue.
In conclusion, unapproved drugs are the topic which has been debated in most medical forums. Many people are in support of using them, while others are opposing it. Nevertheless, if a patient lacks any other treatment options, they should have the moral right to unapproved and unproven drugs (Ebunoluwa & Kareem, 2016). For some, it could be the last resort, and it may have a tremendous impact on them and their families’ lives.
References
Ahle, S. (2019). Calculating the costs of clinical trials – Ash clinical news. ASH Clinical News. Web.
Anscombe, E. (n.d.) Kantian ethics. Sacramento State. Web.
Ebunoluwa, O. O., & Kareem, F. A. (2016). Ethics of trial drug use: to give or not to give? BE Online. Web.
Oduwole, E., & Fayemi, K. (2016). The ethics of Ebola trial drugs: To give or not to give? Beonline Journal of the Center for Bioethics and Research, 3(4), 22-40. Web.