CONSEQUENTIALI

ST APPROACH
 SCENARIO
A pharmaceutical company has developed a new drug that has
the potential to cure a rare and deadly disease affecting a small
community in a developing country. However, the company is
unsure about the drug's long-term side effects and wants to
conduct human trials. They are considering whether to conduct
these trials in the same community affected by the disease or to
test the drug on a different population.
What action will produce the greatest overall
happiness or benefit for the majority of
people affected by the drug - conducting the
trials in the affected community or testing on
a different population?
Benefits and
Risks
COMMUNITY WITH THE DISEASE:
• Benefits: A potential cure or treatment for the
spreading disease. This could significantly
improve their health and well-being.
• Risks: Exposure to a drug with unknown long-
term effects. However, the potential benefit of
stopping the disease might outweigh this risk.
COMMUNITY NOT AFFECTED:
• Benefits: Contribute to medical research that
could benefit others in the future.

• Risks: Being exposed to a potentially risky drug

when they are perfectly healthy.
 Weighing the Outcomes:

• Severity: The disease is actively spreading and causing

harm to the affected community. The potential
consequences for them are more immediate and severe.
 Weighing the Outcomes:

• Number of People Affected: The human trials on

healthy individuals would likely involve a smaller
group compared to the entire affected community.
Minimizing the number of people exposed to unknown
risks is important.
 Weighing the Outcomes:

• Alternatives: There might be ways to involve the

affected community ethically, such as voluntary trials
with informed consent.
Challenges and Considerations:

• Predicting Consequences: It's impossible to know for

sure what the long-term effects of the drug will be.
However, the urgency of the situation for the affected
community might justify taking a calculated risk.
 Challenges and Considerations:

• Informed Consent: If the trials involve healthy

individuals from outside the affected community, strict
informed consent procedures are crucial. They must be
fully aware of the potential risks and benefits before
participating.
Thank
you!