Communities and Informed Consent in Medical Research in Africa

Communities and Informed Consent in Medical Research in Africa
Book Chapter
Yaw A. Frimpong-Mansoh
An African Research Ethics Reader, 2024 [Brill]
Abstract
This chapter seeks to clarify the imperative role of community in the complex process of obtaining informed consent in clinical research in African societies. Although the communal character of African ethics and cultures have been much discussed in recent research ethics scholarship, there is still a lack of clarity on the role and justification of community members in the complex process of obtaining informed consent in medical research. The Western liberal individualistic system of ethics is seen as antithetical to the African communal system. The Western system seems concerned that the communal system encourages intrusive paternalism and infringement upon the autonomous rights of the individual. It is argued here however that community involvement in clinical research in Africa is nothing but another justified level of institutional protection comparable to the roles of REC s in efforts to safeguard against exploitative and abusive unethical practices.