MEDICAL RIGHTS WATCH MEDIA CONFERENCE REPORT, “The Rights and Responsibilities of Research Participants”

By David Kulemela, Member MRW

On Saturday, 21st February 2009, Medical Rights Watch organized a Media Conference which took place in John Chiphangwi Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, Mahatma Ghandi Campus. The broad objective was to sensitise the media practitioners about the Rights and Responsibilities of Research Participants. This was the beginning of “The Rights and Responsibilities of Research Participants” Project, which MRW is conducting in the months of February, March and April, 2009. Apart from sensitizing the media, the project will involve sensitizing medical research participants and patients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and the seven Health Centres of Blantyre District. This project is being funded by the African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET) through the College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC), a body that oversees all medical research in Malawi.

The function was graced by Dr Dama Phiri, the District Medical Officer (DMO) for Blantyre (representing the District Health Officer) who was the Guest of Honor and Professor J. Mfutso-Bengo, Director of Centre for Bioethics in East and Southern Africa (CEBESA) and Patron of MRW, Mr Kangaude, Specialist Lawyer in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Mrs. M. Kwataine, National Coordinator of Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) who were the speakers and the media practioners.

The Vice Chairperson, Mr Jones Chise in his welcoming remarks outlined the objectives of the Media Conference and its importance and relevance to the upcoming project. He also thanked the Guests and the media practioners for coming to the function.

In his presentation, Mr Kangaude highlighted the rights and responsibilities of pregnant women in research; concept, laws protecting rights relating to research participants, vulnerability of pregnant women and building a culture of respect for rights. The basic cornerstones of women rights participating in research include; informed decision making (consent), free decision making, privacy and confidentiality but also avoiding overburdening them.

Professor Mfutso-Bengo’s presentation dealt with patients and research participants’ rights and responsibilities. The major points tackled were; the patients charter and its importance which include protection of dignity, promotion of professionalism, prevention of professional misconduct, prevention of negligence and management of ethical dilemmas and conflict of interest. The responsibilities include; know procedure, benefits, risks, length of study and rights, not to interfere with other participants’ rights, utilize healthcare system, compliance to prescribed treatment and care of his/herself. On ethical dilemmas, Professor Mfutso-Bengo mentioned equity, privacy and confidentiality, post trial access for the research participant and follow-ups (for safety).

Lastly, Mrs. Kwataine presented on the rights and responsibilities of research participants which highlighted the reasons for conducting research and volunteering, research participation in least developing countries, the rights and responsibilities and pregnant women participating in research and their dilemma.

Following the three presentations was a question time and then the function was closed by the Guest of Honor. In her speech, Dr Phiri also scored the importance of medical research, the function and the upcoming project but also thanked MRW for organizing the function and the other guests for the presentations and the media practioners for attending it.

The Director of Ceremonies for the function was Mr Joe Khalani, member MRW and Ms Tadala Hamisi, member MRW opened and closed with a word of prayer.


February, 2009
MRW Headquaters,
Blantyre

for more information visit www.mrw.medcol.mw or write the Chairperson of MRW on tdivala@gmail.com or the Vice Chairperson on jchise@medcol.mw.