Research Ethics in Healthcare and the Role of Civil Society: Learnings from Covid-19

Abstract: Research ethics in healthcare is very significant. Biomedical research, particularly those engaging with ‘controlled’ human trials must have sound research ethics. This review paper, therefore, addresses the ethical dilemmas in biomedical / healthcare research. It also looks at additional dilemmas like transparency of medical interventions, the role of the state during health emergencies and technological advancements and equitable access. The quest for the ‘greater social good’, must not compromise on ethics. COVID-19 propelled unprecedented reliance on technology and networking, which overlooked the poor. Informed consent too becomes dubious, when information itself is inaccessible. This paper asserts that good governance and the judicious usage of scarce resources are essential for ethical research. It also argues the case for promoting the role of civil society as a watchdog in the wake of state autocracy during the pandemic. Civil society’s role as a partner in managing future health crisis is being advocated, as this will boost research ethics.