Catalyzing Ethical Research in Emergencies. Ethics Guidance, Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Pending Agenda

Abstract

Research is an essential component of public health emergency preparedness and response. Therefore, it is essential to be able to carry out research as soon as a health emergency begins and to ensure that it is carried out in an ethical manner. This Pan American Health Organization publication provides direction for strategies and guidelines on modifying ethical oversight processes in emergency situations, ethically monitoring ongoing research in the face of new evidence, and overcoming other ethical challenges that arise when doing research in public health emergencies. It also provides guidance so that the emergency use of unproven interventions outside of a research setting is carried out in an ethical manner. Finally, it includes the lessons learned in the Region of the Americas during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations resulting from a regional reflection exercise aimed at improving ethical preparation for conducting research during future health emergencies.