Ethical Issues Surrounding the Exportation of Samples from Developing Countries I
Abstract
Background: This is a two-part review of the ethical issues arising from the exportation of biological samples from the developing world. With the burgeoning of research in the developing world carried out in collaboration with partners from the developed world there has been a corresponding increase in the exportation of samples for various reasons. This has raised a number of ethical issues, ranging from the purpose of exporting the samples to the ownership of the exported samples. Objective: To explore and discuss the main ethical issues arising from the exportation of samples from the developing to the developed world in general and using the case of Zambia. Methods: A review of the current existing literature on the issue of exportation of biological samples and biobanking was carried out. Part I of the review will consider exportation of biological samples in general whereas Part Il will address the Zambian situation and discuss the developments in depth.References
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8. Mesiin EM & Quaid KA (2004). Ethical issues in the collection, storage, and research use of human biological materials. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, Anonymization in research involving Biobanks.
9. Elger BS & Caplan AL (2006). Consent and Anonymization in research involving Biobanks. EMBO Reports, EMBO Reports,
10. UNZABREC (2009), Research proposals received over past 10 years —Unpublished.
11. Pang T & Guindon E (2004). Globalization and risks to health. Science & Society EMBO Reports, 5: I l- 16.
12. Frenk J & Gomez-Dantes O (2002). Globalization and the Challenges to Health Systems, Health Affairs, 22:160165
13. Kuritzkes DR (2004). Ethical conduct of research in resource-limited settings. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 189:794-795.
14. Pappas G & Hyder AA (2005). Exploring ethical considerations for the use of biological and physiological markers in population - based in less developed countries. Globalization and Health, 1:6 doi: 10.1186/1744-8603-116
15. Slowther A, Boynton P, Shaw S (2006). Research Governance: ethical issues, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 99:65-72.
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18. Annas GJ (1990). Outrageous fortune: selling others people's cells. Hastings Center Report, 20(6):36-39.
19. Mudur G (2002). Indian Scientists object to export of human biological material for research. British Medical Journal, 325:990.
20. Dickenson D (2004). Consent, Commodification & Benefit-Sharing in genetic research. Developing World Bioethics, Dec 4 (2) 109-124.
21. Maschke KJ & Murray TH (2004). Ethical Issues in tissue banking for research: the prospects and pitfalls of setting international standards. Theoretical Medicine & Bioethics, 25:143-155.
22. Molyneux CS, Peshu N Marsh K (2005). Trust and informed consent: Insights from Community members on the Kenyan Coast. Social Medicine and Medicine,
23. Wendler D (2006). One-time general consent for research on biological samples. British Medical Journal,
24. Nakkazi E (2006). Uganda losing millions of cash in exportation of human samples. Monjitor Online http://www.blackherbals.com/tjganda is losing millions exportation human samples .htm
25. UpshurREG, Lavery JV, TindanaPO (2007). Taking tissue seriously means taking communities seriously. BMC Medical Ethics, 8: 1 1 doi: 186/1472-6939-8-11
26. Perrey C, Wassenaard D, Gillchrist S, IvanoffB (2009). Ethical issues in Medical research in the Developing world: A report on a meeting organized by Foundation Merieux: Developing WorldBioethics, 9(2): 88-96
27. Lairumbi GM, Molyneux S, Snow RW, Marsh K, Pcshu N, English M (2008). Promoting the social value of research in Kenya: Examining the practical aspects ofcollaborative partnership using an ethical framework, Social Science & Medicine, 67:734-747.
28. Mulla AS (2007). What drives health research in a developing country. Croatian Medical Journal, 48:261267.
29. Langlois A (2008). The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights: Perspective from Kenya and South Africa. Health Care Anal 16:39-51 DOI 10.1007k 10728-007-0055-7
30. Tavar R, Murphy TF (2001). The case of compensation of
tissue donors. Archive Internal Medicine, 161 : 1924-1925.
31. Langat SK (2005). Reuse of samples: Ethical issues encountered by two institutional ethics review committees in Kenya. Bioethics, 19:537-549.
32. Kayira K, Bwanaisa L, Njobvu A, Taylor T (2007). What it means to offer an Autopsy in Malawi. In ethical issues in international Biomedical Research: A case edited byy Lavery IV, Grady C, Wahl ER, Emamuel El. New York: Oxford University Press, 285-286.
33. Emanuel EJ, Wendler D, Grady C (2000). What makes clinical research ethical? Journal of the American Medical Association,
34. London L (2002). Ethical oversight of Public Health
Research: Can rules and IRBs Make a Difference in Developing Countries? Health Policy and Ethics Forum, 92(7): 1079-1084.
35. Caulfield J, Brown R, Meslin M. 2007. Challenging a well established consent norm? One time consent for biobank research. Journal of International Biotechnology Law
36. Caulfield T, Ogbogu U, Isasi RM (2007). Informed consent in embryonic stem cell research: Are we following basic principles? Canadian Medical Association Journal,
37. Bhutta ZA (2004). Beyond informed consent. Bulletin World Health Organization, 82(10):771-777.
38. Andrews LB (2005). Harnessing the Benefits of Biobanks. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 33(1):2230.
39. The Royal College of Pathologists (1999). Consensus statement of recommended policies for the use of human tissue in research, education and quality control, London.
40. Jegede AS (2009b). Culture and genetic screening in Africa. Developing World Bioethics 3 : 128-137.
41. Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2002). The ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries, London.
2. Cambon-Thomsen A (2004). The social and ethical issues of post-genom ic human biobanks, Nature Review/Genetics, 5:866-873.
3. Auray-Blais, C & Patenaude, J (2006). A Biobank management model application to biomedical research, BMC Medical Ethics, doi: 10. 1 186/472-6939-7-4.
4. Sgaier SK, JhaP, Mony P, KmpadA, Lakshmi V, Kumar R, Ganguly NK (2007). Biobanks in developing countries: Needs and Feasibility, wwwsciencemag.org
5. Andanda PA (2008). Human-tissue-related interventions: ownership and intellectual property rights in international collaborative research in developing countries. Journal of Medical Ethics 34:171-179.
6. Hardy BJ, Seguin B, Goodsaid F, Jimenez-Sanchez G, Singer PA, Daar AS (2008). The next steps for genomic medicine: challenges and opportunities for the developing world. Nature Review & Genetic, Oct: 523-527.
7. Avard D,- Samuél J, Knoppers BM (2009). Paediatric Research in Canada. Montreal: Les Éditions Thémis. Chp 3-4.
8. Mesiin EM & Quaid KA (2004). Ethical issues in the collection, storage, and research use of human biological materials. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, Anonymization in research involving Biobanks.
9. Elger BS & Caplan AL (2006). Consent and Anonymization in research involving Biobanks. EMBO Reports, EMBO Reports,
10. UNZABREC (2009), Research proposals received over past 10 years —Unpublished.
11. Pang T & Guindon E (2004). Globalization and risks to health. Science & Society EMBO Reports, 5: I l- 16.
12. Frenk J & Gomez-Dantes O (2002). Globalization and the Challenges to Health Systems, Health Affairs, 22:160165
13. Kuritzkes DR (2004). Ethical conduct of research in resource-limited settings. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 189:794-795.
14. Pappas G & Hyder AA (2005). Exploring ethical considerations for the use of biological and physiological markers in population - based in less developed countries. Globalization and Health, 1:6 doi: 10.1186/1744-8603-116
15. Slowther A, Boynton P, Shaw S (2006). Research Governance: ethical issues, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 99:65-72.
16. Childress JF & Gaare Bernheim R (2008). Public health Ethics, Public Justification and public trust, Bundesgesundheitsbl - Gesundheitsforsch Gesundheitsschutz 2008 5 1 : 1 5 8- 1 63 . DOI I O. 1007/SOO 103-008-0444-6
17. WHO (2005). Genetics, genomics and the patenting of DNA: review of potential implications for health in developing countries. Human Genetics Programme Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion World Health Organization. Switzerland.
18. Annas GJ (1990). Outrageous fortune: selling others people's cells. Hastings Center Report, 20(6):36-39.
19. Mudur G (2002). Indian Scientists object to export of human biological material for research. British Medical Journal, 325:990.
20. Dickenson D (2004). Consent, Commodification & Benefit-Sharing in genetic research. Developing World Bioethics, Dec 4 (2) 109-124.
21. Maschke KJ & Murray TH (2004). Ethical Issues in tissue banking for research: the prospects and pitfalls of setting international standards. Theoretical Medicine & Bioethics, 25:143-155.
22. Molyneux CS, Peshu N Marsh K (2005). Trust and informed consent: Insights from Community members on the Kenyan Coast. Social Medicine and Medicine,
23. Wendler D (2006). One-time general consent for research on biological samples. British Medical Journal,
24. Nakkazi E (2006). Uganda losing millions of cash in exportation of human samples. Monjitor Online http://www.blackherbals.com/tjganda is losing millions exportation human samples .htm
25. UpshurREG, Lavery JV, TindanaPO (2007). Taking tissue seriously means taking communities seriously. BMC Medical Ethics, 8: 1 1 doi: 186/1472-6939-8-11
26. Perrey C, Wassenaard D, Gillchrist S, IvanoffB (2009). Ethical issues in Medical research in the Developing world: A report on a meeting organized by Foundation Merieux: Developing WorldBioethics, 9(2): 88-96
27. Lairumbi GM, Molyneux S, Snow RW, Marsh K, Pcshu N, English M (2008). Promoting the social value of research in Kenya: Examining the practical aspects ofcollaborative partnership using an ethical framework, Social Science & Medicine, 67:734-747.
28. Mulla AS (2007). What drives health research in a developing country. Croatian Medical Journal, 48:261267.
29. Langlois A (2008). The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights: Perspective from Kenya and South Africa. Health Care Anal 16:39-51 DOI 10.1007k 10728-007-0055-7
30. Tavar R, Murphy TF (2001). The case of compensation of
tissue donors. Archive Internal Medicine, 161 : 1924-1925.
31. Langat SK (2005). Reuse of samples: Ethical issues encountered by two institutional ethics review committees in Kenya. Bioethics, 19:537-549.
32. Kayira K, Bwanaisa L, Njobvu A, Taylor T (2007). What it means to offer an Autopsy in Malawi. In ethical issues in international Biomedical Research: A case edited byy Lavery IV, Grady C, Wahl ER, Emamuel El. New York: Oxford University Press, 285-286.
33. Emanuel EJ, Wendler D, Grady C (2000). What makes clinical research ethical? Journal of the American Medical Association,
34. London L (2002). Ethical oversight of Public Health
Research: Can rules and IRBs Make a Difference in Developing Countries? Health Policy and Ethics Forum, 92(7): 1079-1084.
35. Caulfield J, Brown R, Meslin M. 2007. Challenging a well established consent norm? One time consent for biobank research. Journal of International Biotechnology Law
36. Caulfield T, Ogbogu U, Isasi RM (2007). Informed consent in embryonic stem cell research: Are we following basic principles? Canadian Medical Association Journal,
37. Bhutta ZA (2004). Beyond informed consent. Bulletin World Health Organization, 82(10):771-777.
38. Andrews LB (2005). Harnessing the Benefits of Biobanks. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 33(1):2230.
39. The Royal College of Pathologists (1999). Consensus statement of recommended policies for the use of human tissue in research, education and quality control, London.
40. Jegede AS (2009b). Culture and genetic screening in Africa. Developing World Bioethics 3 : 128-137.
41. Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2002). The ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries, London.
Published
2025-09-11
How to Cite
1.
Nkandu M, Kris D, James M, Corrado V. Ethical Issues Surrounding the Exportation of Samples from Developing Countries I. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 11Sep.2025 [cited 14Sep.2025];1(2):86-9. Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1550
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Biomedical Sciences
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