Research Ethics as Social Policy. Some Lessons from Experiences in Canada and in the United States

For more than tlrree decades, Canada and the United States have used similar mechanisms for ensuring the protection of human subjects involved in biomedical and behavioural research: written guidelines that specify the substantive and procedural requirements of investigators and institutions; individual informed consent, and prior review and approval by interdisciplinary committees. Given the proximity of the countries to one another and the massive amount of trade and commerce that transpires between them, it is not surprising that these countries share a number of values in research. During the past fifteen years, however, both countries have experienced new challenges to their systems. Sorne of the challenges relate to new trends in research, such as genetics studies and massively increased private sector funding for pharmacological research. Other challenges relate to emerging trends in oversight policies and procedures, such as accreditation of ethics committees. Research reflects a country's particular social policies. The responses to emerging trends illustrate how such policies are evolving in sometimes quite different ways in both countries. This reflects the related but distinct political cultures and structures in the two countries. This paper will explore these trends and emerging responses, drawing lessons from each.