Health Ethics Guidelines in Australia: Unethical Research and the Role of Ethics

Health Ethics Guidelines in Australia: Unethical Research and the Role of Ethics
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Health Ethics Guidelines in Australia: Unethical Research and the Role of Ethics
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Unethical research is a controversial topic that many scientists ostensibly address using different guidelines. Before 1990 ethical guidelines protecting research were not a key issue; however, a lot has changed, such as the establishment of the Belmont report (Wilson et al., 2017). The main aim of ethical guidelines is to reduce the manipulation or exhaustion of the Aboriginal people’s rights. Besides, most studies integrate unethical research and challenges on special communities and suitable interventions (Bull, 2010). Australia's indigenous people are the most victims of medical research due to their special qualities. For instance, in research of orphan DNA, indigenous samples were taken to show postcolonial science and ethical biovalue (Kowal, 2013). The research is a key reference to many scientists since it focuses on different ethical elements. According to Kowal (2013), the researchers used a thousand samples and ethically embraced the biovalue of the communities. The given an example is necessary to answer the question of 2020 AH&MRC guidelines in protecting the ethical values of the First Nation people. 2020 AH&MRC guidelines regulate the researchers during conception, designing, and researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The paper probes to what extent the guidelines safeguard the indigenous communities from unethical research. The structure and the principles of 2020 AH&MRC HREC guidelines protect Aboriginal and other marginalized communities by reducing system issues of racism, little education, staff exhaustion, and lack of medical care.
Elements of 2020 AH&MRC Guidelines
The 2020 AH&MRC guidelines contain specific elements that determine to what extent they safeguard the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other communities from unethical research. The main aim of elements is to ensure that the researchers conduct their study appropriately. It allows the researchers to promote ethical studies. Before establishing the guidelines, the Aboriginals went through harassment and research without consent which jeopardized their right to privacy and confidentiality.
Net Benefits for Aboriginal Individuals
The net benefit for Aboriginal individuals is the first element of the 2020 AH&MRC guidelines. Under the identified principle, research conducted should positively benefit the First Nation people (AH&MRC, 2020). Besides the health aspect, the research should have social implications for the Aboriginal people and other communities. Therefore, the principle prevents the researchers from exhausting the community without any benefit. The response aligned to the Manhattan project, which showed the responsibility of a scientist by engaging the community during the research (Forge, 2008). Additionally, the element encourages the researchers to co-design their study to minimize any potential risks. It opts for identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks before conducting the risks. A researcher should avoid any study...