SciDev.Net

Ethical codes drawn up predominantly by experts from developed countries should not be imposed on the rest of the world, an African epidemiologist told a recent conference of European medical ethicists.

"Dogmatic interpretation of universal ethical principles in medical research will paralyse research efforts to improve HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa," Dr Nicolas Meda, an epidemiologist from Burkina Faso, warned the meeting in Brussels.

The meeting was organised by the European Group on Ethics — a body appointed by the European Commission — which will soon be publishing a report on the ethical aspects of biomedical research in developing countries.

Link to full British Medical Journal article