阅读理解
The combination of the increased burden of AIDS in the developing world and the absence of affordable therapies and vaccines has raised the sensitivity of health professionals to issues of ethics and equity in international biomedical research. Foremost among the concerns is whether new treatments should be compared against Western standards of care or against existing local standards. Other thorny issues include whether communities can benefit from research they have taken part in when they may not be able to afford the new interventions that prove effective and how researchers and their institutions in developing countries can be strengthened through international collaboration. Strong emotional responses and increased entrenchment have begun to characterize the discussion on how to design and conduct international biomedical research.
Those who venture into the discussion on international research have an obligation to begin with fairness as the principal rule of engagement, concerned that each party will have an equal share in what is brought to the table, and each will leave feeling equally satisfied. In reality, there is the overwhelming power of assertion among some participants and the temptation of expediency urging deference on the part of others.
The economic, social, technological, and political situations of disparity that weigh so heavily on this discussion should, however, not be used as reasons to disparage it. Parties affected by proposed health research projects need to become increasingly involved in designing and carrying out the research. In support of this, the role of local and national ethics committees in developing countries is becoming increasingly important. Similarly, local re search institutions and scientists are gaining stronger roles in international research projects. There is also broader recognition of the need and value of consulting local communities and involving potential participants in research early on in the process of designing re search protocols.
Given the enormous disparity between the parties involved in international research, it may not always be possible to achieve unity or even consensus. On the other hand, to allow any one voice (or group of voices) to dominate the conversation would be irresponsible. By fostering fairness and demanding a strong commitment to the highest values, we contribute to the power of health research to more fully address the urgencies of disease and the inequities of healthcare.
单选题
According to the first paragraph, one of the concerns related to international biomedical research is ______.