When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concerns

dc.contributor.authorNattrass, Nicoli
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-25T12:54:04Z
dc.date.available2016-05-25T12:54:04Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.date.updated2016-05-25T12:52:53Z
dc.description.abstractThere is an understandable tension between medical researchers and social scientists when it comes to AIDS-related research at clinic level. Clinics offering antiretroviral treatment exist primarily to assist patients - but many of them also provide 'data' for medical researchers. This may involve a randomised controlled trial, or simply the collection of data on adherence. A social scientist wishing to access patients to conduct interviews or focus groups thus (inevitably) appears to the HIV clinician as at best a disruption to an already over-stretched operation, and at worst a potentially confounding factor in his or her own research. Given that the medical practitioner/researchers effectively control the clinics, the temptation to deny social scientists access to patients must be strong. As discussed below, this was the case with regard to two Cape Town clinics that prevented a clinical psychologist (working in my research unit) from conducting social science research. Although understandable, such unaccountable exercise of power denies patients the opportunity to participate in other research projects that may be of benefit to them (or society) in ways that HIV clinicians do not necessarily appreciate. As such, it violates the principle of informed consent. It is also problematic in that it restricts the AIDS research agenda to biomedical concerns. This is particularly worrying with regard to AIDS, where it is widely accepted (by social scientists and HIV clinicians alike) that social and psychological factors matter a great deal for HIV prevention and treatment interventions.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationNattrass, N. (2006). When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concerns. <i>Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19853en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationNattrass, Nicoli "When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concerns." <i>Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine</i> (2006) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19853en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationNattrass, N. (2006). When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing" their" patients: Some ethical concerns. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine, (22), 16-18.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1608-9693en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Nattrass, Nicoli AB - There is an understandable tension between medical researchers and social scientists when it comes to AIDS-related research at clinic level. Clinics offering antiretroviral treatment exist primarily to assist patients - but many of them also provide 'data' for medical researchers. This may involve a randomised controlled trial, or simply the collection of data on adherence. A social scientist wishing to access patients to conduct interviews or focus groups thus (inevitably) appears to the HIV clinician as at best a disruption to an already over-stretched operation, and at worst a potentially confounding factor in his or her own research. Given that the medical practitioner/researchers effectively control the clinics, the temptation to deny social scientists access to patients must be strong. As discussed below, this was the case with regard to two Cape Town clinics that prevented a clinical psychologist (working in my research unit) from conducting social science research. Although understandable, such unaccountable exercise of power denies patients the opportunity to participate in other research projects that may be of benefit to them (or society) in ways that HIV clinicians do not necessarily appreciate. As such, it violates the principle of informed consent. It is also problematic in that it restricts the AIDS research agenda to biomedical concerns. This is particularly worrying with regard to AIDS, where it is widely accepted (by social scientists and HIV clinicians alike) that social and psychological factors matter a great deal for HIV prevention and treatment interventions. DA - 2006 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2006 SM - 1608-9693 T1 - When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concerns TI - When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concerns UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19853 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/19853
dc.identifier.urihttp://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/612/749
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationNattrass N. When HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concerns. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine. 2006; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19853.en_ZA
dc.languageengen_ZA
dc.publisherHealth and Medical Publishing Groupen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCentre for Social Science Research(CSSR)en_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceSouthern African Journal of HIV Medicineen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/612/749
dc.subject.otherPhilosophical Overview
dc.subject.otherAIDS Prevention
dc.subject.otherAntiretroviral Therapy
dc.subject.otherUser Compliance
dc.subject.otherEthics
dc.titleWhen HIV clinicians prevent social scientists from accessing 'their' patients : some ethical concernsen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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