RESURRECCION

NEPOMUCENO

CONDEZ

FIDELINO

A Time for New North-South Relationships in Global Health

I. Introduction
a. Ethical Negligence
i. Evidenced in the Nuremberg Trials wherein the atrocities of scientists have been
showcased for the sake of scientific advancement. The doctors’ trials, which
were held in December 9, 1946 to July 19, 1947 are clear examples of such
atrocities. Josef Mengele, which is known as one of the most notorious Nazi
scientists is a testament to this negligence because of his inhumane human
experiments.
b. Bioethics
i. The study of typically controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology
and medicine. It is also moral discernment as it relates to medical policy,
practice, and research. The nonexistence of Bioethical Principles prior to WW2
has propelled society to create these guidelines so that the atrocities committed
in the past may only serve as a reminder of what not to do. Although, the
imposition of such is still a challenge as many countries often conduct inhumane
experiments.
c. Declaration of Helsinki
i. ethical principles regarding human experimentation developed for the medical
community by the World Medical Association (WMA). It is widely regarded as
the cornerstone document on human research ethics. Stipulated in the
declaration of Helsinki are principles such as respect for an individual (article 8),
the investigator’s duty is solely dependent on the patient (articles 2, 3, 10).
d. Global Health
i. Improvement in such a way that health incentives are assembled from an
international perspective. This is where to impact of advancement and
coordination from neighboring countries in which all yearn for improving health
and achieving equity in health for people worldwide.
e. Ethical Laxity comparable to Nuremberg atrocities.
i. However, it is to be noted that with many bioethical frameworks and studies
release, there is still ethical laxities undergoing throughout the world. In the
United Kingdom, voluntary human experimentation conducted in a negligent
and unethical manner at Porton Down in the 1950s caused the unlawful death
of Ronald Maddison.
II. The New Era of Imperialism
a. Globalization
i. According to Investopedia, Globalization is the spread of products, technology,
information, and jobs across national borders and cultures. In economic terms,
it describes an interdependence of nations around the globe fostered through
free trade. Essentially, Globalization is interconnecting the world to one another
in the aspects of Politics, Culture, Economics. This allows a worldwide
benchmark for qualities of life.
ii. Imperialism on the other hand is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of
extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by
gaining political and economic control of other areas. Because it always involves
the use of power, whether military force or some subtler form, imperialism has
often been considered morally reprehensible, and the term is frequently
employed in international propaganda to denounce and discredit an opponent’s
foreign policy (Britannica).
b. Goals of Imperialism
i. Superiority is one of the focal points in which imperialism in built upon. This
superiority will transcend into the other factors that contribute to imperialistic
tendencies.
ii. Control over the people is what makes up Imperialisms main ideologies because
this power allows the state to monitor and manipulate, and subdue anything it
may see that will be detrimental to its own progress.
iii. Domination in all aspects of society in which is exists. When Imperialists
dominate politics, the economy, it essentially has control over those under it.
c. Ornamentalism
i. This revisionist take at the British Empire contends that it was essentially put
together not with respect to a conviction of racial predominance in any case,
rather, on an immense and complex social chain of command, wherein rank
bested shading. England sent out its élites, sending nobles, to make a
simulacrum of Victorian culture abroad, hoisting the status of Indian Maharajas,
Middle-Eastern Emirs, and West African chiefs.

III. Tropical Medicine in the Colonial World

a. Evolution of Medical Discipline
i. The crossing lines of infection and general wellbeing are by and large profoundly
redrawn. Globalization has made every one of us progressively mindful—and
appalled—at the irritating blend of detachment and intercession that is being
executed in the entirety of our names. We should not permit the honest reason
of fortifying state security to sugar the toxic substance of state viciousness.
 b. Tropical Medicine
i. Interdisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with health issues that occur
uniquely, are more widespread, or are more difficult to control in tropical and
subtropical regions.
ii. Tropical diseases encompass all diseases that occur solely, or principally, in the
tropics. In practice, the term is often taken to refer to infectious diseases that
thrive in hot, humid conditions, such as malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis,
onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis,
and dengue.
c. Etiology and treatment of tropical diseases
i. The trend in developing countries has always been about treating diseases more
than actually preventing them. This puts the “cure” at a position of power.
Tropical Medicine is treated as an asset by a colonial ruler. Thus, work on the
aforementioned was strictly a scientific level occurrence.

VI. Contextualizing Consent

Misguided information and limiting participation freedom takes individuals further away from
gaining informed consent. A number of groups in the Global South will identify with “communitarian”
approach to human rights. Especially in the African communities where the use of communitarian
approach is better than Marxist utilitarian where the rights of an individual can be suppressed by the
public interest.

The absence of medical options is a barrier. Although this problem is not limited to Global South,
is it revealed by an interview held during a HIV trial in the Ivory Coast that multinational drug companies
use misguided information to gather participants and offering what appears to be “free health care and
a hope to shield them from the diseases” for them to participate. This creates confusion between what
is “research” and what is “treatment” among the participants.

Providing informed consent is vital for the protection of the individuals. Therefore, the
improvement in the awareness of health-related issue is important to gaining independent consent.
Health groups must work hand and hand with Global South nations to improve the overall health
literacy of the population. Incorporating health-related education at an individual, community-based
and governmental level is vital to empower individuals to make

Independent and informed decisions about their health and involvement in clinical research.

a. Informed consent
 i. Barriers of informed consent are misguided information and limiting participation
freedom. The definition of informed consent is giving the individual full knowledge of
the possible risk and benefits. Therefore, individuals will not know every detail if the
information’s are wrong and they are not able to fully participate.
b. Absence of medical options
i. Lack of medical options creates confusion between what is “research” and what is
“treatment” among trial participants. Participants are being given what appears to be
free health care to individuals without disclosing the full information. Impoverished
nations/ Global South are often the victim with regards to this. They hope for medical
care and multinational drug companies take advantage of this and use them as test
subject for research.
c. Health literacy
i. A population-wide awareness in the improvement of health is vital in achieving
informed consent. International health groups must work with Global South nation’s
improvement of health literacy which eradicates uninformed individuals. This empowers
individuals by giving them the ability to have independent consent.

VII. Appropriate research agendas and funding

a. US-Funded Phase III

In relevance of the US-Funded Phase III, clinical trials in the Global South were allergic to rhinitis and
overactive bladder.  Rather than imminent health issues such as malaria, tuberculosis and
neglected tropical diseases.

b. Pharmaceutical Research

Indeed, even in the Global North, making an interpretation of research result to clinical practice is a
complex and imperfect procedure. This issue is noticed by the Global South with poor infrastructure,
lack of adequate human resources for health, and inappropriate funding.

c. Implementation
Any Implementation of medical research that has consequences is complicated by inefficiency
and corruption in many Global Southern countries. The implementation of targets
fundamentally requires true and validated baseline data.