Research ethics and HIV clinical trials

Abstract

Investigations into the medical, epidemiological and social aspects of HIV give rise to difficult questions in research ethics. The number and location of many people affected with HIV, combined with a lack of access to basic health care and stigma associated with the disease have caused significant controversies, particularly for international collaborations. This article briefly surveys some of the significant ethical issues arising from biomedical research into HIV and highlights the regulatory mechanisms in place which aim to balance complex and conflicting rights and interests in this difficult field of research.