Research and Randomized Clinical Trials During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Could Ethics Guide Us?

Abstract

The COVID-19 disease, was 2020's biggest medical global concern, while peo-ple on earth were experiencing another global concern, climate change. Its fast dissemination has generated the need for randomized clinical trials that adhere to the principles of ethics and are overseen by institutional review boards. Since SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, a monitored emergency use of unregistered and experimental interventions is inevitably being considered. This study focused on ethical issues of putative COVID-19 therapies during the pandemic and discussed how to address them, to preserve research integrity and the main principles of research ethics. It discussed the critical role of local research institutions and sponsors, research and treatment distinction, the working principles of institutional review boards, obtaining informed consent and also the need for rapid data sharing during the current time-sensitive pandemic circumstances.