Objectives: To identify some instances in literature of efforts or semantic distortions that have inspired bioethics research unrelated to the interests of the Third World

Kottow, M

English

University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico
UNM Digital Repository
English Latin American Social Medicine
12-9-2008
Rhetorical and Semantic Tensions in Research
Ethics
M Kottow
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Recommended Citation
Kottow, M. "Rhetorical and Semantic Tensions in Research Ethics." (2008). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/lasm_cucs_en/130
DOCUMENTO CUCS # 24B 
 
CSP200723(10)Kottow 
 
Kottow M. Tensiones retóricas y semánticas en ética de la investigación. 
(Rhetorical and Semantic Tensions in Research Ethics)  Cadernos de 
Saúde Pública (Río de Janeiro, Brasil) 2007 octubre; 23(10):2396-2402. 
Objectives: To identify some instances in literature of efforts or semantic 
distortions that have inspired bioethics research unrelated to the interests of the 
Third World.  
Methodology: descriptive and analytical bibliography 
Results: The author explains how the tendency to change the language of the 
field of bioethics has had a regressive effect on the interests of developing 
countries, as it has generated a "double standard" of ethics in research. The 
author provides abundant examples in which the practice of informed 
participation is distorted, where, among other things, this trend suggests 
"exceptions and variations" in order to weaken the care for the subjects involved. 
Similarly, the author discusses around the vulnerability, the exploitation and 
coercion which are used by the people executing the research, all with the 
pretext for a common good. These methods are clearly debatable considering 
that the vast majority of research resources are used for study in poor countries 
of a considerable number of health problems that are specific to developed 
countries. Furthermore, as indicated by the author, in 2002, 90% of 
pharmacological substances approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the 
FDA (an organization in the United States which controls medicines, food and 
medical technologies) did not constitute any therapeutic innovation. This shows 
that the main objective of many investigations is to obtain patents to prolong the 
period of protection where the drugs that were previously approved are going to 
lose that protection by not being truly innovative. For the author, the rhetorical 
distortions and manipulations of concepts are increasing and these distortions 
have eroded concepts that represent this intention as something harmless, 
morally and politically correct.  
Conclusions: The author concludes that, given the increase in research projects 
transferred to Latin America, it is necessary for regional bioethics to be vigilant 
against attempts to weaken the protection of individuals and communities 
involved in studies sponsored by commercial institutions from the First World. 
 
 


Rhetorical and Semantic Tensions in Research Ethics

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Rhetorical and Semantic Tensions in Research Ethics

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