By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY – Auhorities from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) told the participants in a workshop conducted here recently that all health researches involving human subjects must undergo ethical review and clearance before implementation.
Pursuant to Joint Memorandum Order No. 2012-001 of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH) and University of the Philippines (UP)-Manila, research ethics committees shall observe procedures and standards in the conduct of quality scientific and ethical review of reseacrh protocols to ensure the safety and protect the rights and welfare of the participants in the research.“Non-compliance therewith may cause legal action to be instituted against responsible persons.”
“Researches should value the person as an end and not as means,” said Dr. Evangeline O. Santos of Philippine Health Council for health Research and Development (PCHRD).
“In research involving children, the consent of parents or guardians will have to be obtained,” Santos added.
Dr. Rosario Angeles T. Alora of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) explained to the participants about the ethical review process such as adherence to international, national, institutional guidelines and policies.
Dr. Santos, however, explained that an ethical researcher avoids and refuses to commit any form of scientific misconduct even under duress or promise of financial, professional or social gains.
“Ethical researcher should exert optimum effort in being a good researcher and resist temptations to be a bad researcher,” Dr. Santos concluded.