What's your field of interest?
Ethical research on HUNT Biosciences
Commercial use of biobanks is not a clear- cut ethical issue. In trying to understand lay peoples view on commercial use of human biological material including human biobanks, Steinsbekk et al* have interviewed various groups from the county of Nord-Trøndelag who also had participated in HUNT and thereby donated biological materials to the HUNT Biobank.
The study show that peoples view is a mixture of pre-articulated beliefs and moral intuitions. The authors’ findings indicate that the act of donation and the subsequent uses of the samples belong to two different spheres. While people had concerns about threat to human dignity and commodification when donating biological samples, their moral concern on the use of the donated material was mostly related to injustice and unfairness. Although some, and at times strong opposition towards commercial use were voiced, the study shows that it is possible to use biobanks commercially in an ethically acceptable way provided there are sufficient frameworks and regulations to hinder commodification of the human body and promote communal benefit sharing.
HUNT Biosciences has established such framework for commercial use of HUNT Biobank. The framework is described in the company’s “Industry Guidelines For Access to Hunt Biobank and Databank Resources” which is displayed elsewhere on this homepage.
Selected quotes from Focus group participants:
If they (HUNT Biosciences) are not allowed to do research on our blood samples then travelling around and gathering them are pointless. They must be allowed to use them.
(Participant in Focus group 3)
I think that it is important use of the material which ultimately should benefit society and individuals… They can be helped with drugs or new diagnostic tools… And there are actors in our society that can use this with good intentions, to benefit people and at the same time earn some money.
(Participant in Focus group 6)
*: Steinsbekk, K.S.,Ursin, L.Ø., Skolbekken, j.-A. and B. Solberg. 2011. We’re not in it for the money – lay people’s moral intuitions on commercial use of ” their” biobank. Med Health Care and Philos. October 26 2011, http://www.springerlink.com/content/0qx07h19v5470631/
