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Editorial
. 2021 Mar 19;11(3):58-62.
doi: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i3.58.

Rapid commentary: Ethical implications for clinical trialists and patients associated with COVID-19 research

Gayathri Delanerolle  1 , Shanaya Rathod  2 , Kathryn Elliot  2 , Rema Ramakrishnan  3 , Tony Thayanandan  1 , Natasha Sandle  1 , Nyla Haque  1 , Vanessa Raymont  1 , Peter Phiri  2
Affiliations
Editorial

Rapid commentary: Ethical implications for clinical trialists and patients associated with COVID-19 research

Gayathri Delanerolle et al. World J Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Pandemics disrupt clinical trials worldwide, with lasting effects on research. It can severely impact clinical trialists ability to conduct safe and ethically uncompromised trials. Hence, the mounting pressure results in ethically and morally distressing decisions faced by clinical trial professionals during pandemic situations. Whilst clinical trialists attempt to think about preparedness and responses during a pandemic, the need to have an ethical framework that has real-world applicability is imperative. Pandemics are a challenging time for all, however, the safety and access to support for clinical trialists and patients within clinical trials should be at the forefront for their organisations and the government.

Keywords: COVID-19; Clinical trials; Ethics; Pandemic; Patients; Trialists.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: Phiri P has received research grant from Novo Nordisk, and other, educational from Queen Mary University of London, other from John Wiley & Sons, other from Otsuka, outside the submitted work. Rathod S reports other from Janssen, Lundbeck and Otsuka outside the submitted work. All other authors report no conflict of interests for this article. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research, the Department of Health and Social Care or the Academic institutions.

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