Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections
Biobanks are repositories that store human biological materials and their associated data. They are rapidly becoming part of national and international networks and give rise to unique ethico-regulatory issues. Whether consent is informed and whether this term should be used when specimens are colle...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African Medical Association
2015-09-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Bioethics and Law |
| Online Access: | http://www.sajbl.org.za/index.php/sajbl/article/download/428/406 |
| _version_ | 1797370312331886592 |
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| author | A Dhai S Mahomed I Sanne |
| author_facet | A Dhai S Mahomed I Sanne |
| author_sort | A Dhai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biobanks are repositories that store human biological materials and their associated data. They are rapidly becoming part of national and international networks and give rise to unique ethico-regulatory issues. Whether consent is informed and whether this term should be used when specimens are collected for biobank research is questionable. Where risks occur, they are usually social and relate to identifiability. Public trust and confidence are important for the success of this type of research. Consensus is growing that governance of biobanks should be harmonised. Controlled specimen and data access agreements are essential. The South African National Health Act (NHA) and its Regulations, that provide the foundation for the legal framework with regard to human tissue and research in South Africa, are silent on the issue of biobanks and the law lags behind while science and technology advance rapidly. The use of biobank assets will lead to significant benefits in human health and should be encouraged while taking account of the associated ethical, legal and social issues and working towards a balance between these two positions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:00:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca43afea12944266bf4a289a82ffd5bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-7639 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:00:36Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Bioethics and Law |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca43afea12944266bf4a289a82ffd5bb2024-01-02T02:05:47ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Journal of Bioethics and Law1999-76392015-09-0182555510.7196/SAJBL.8060Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protectionsA DhaiS MahomedI SanneBiobanks are repositories that store human biological materials and their associated data. They are rapidly becoming part of national and international networks and give rise to unique ethico-regulatory issues. Whether consent is informed and whether this term should be used when specimens are collected for biobank research is questionable. Where risks occur, they are usually social and relate to identifiability. Public trust and confidence are important for the success of this type of research. Consensus is growing that governance of biobanks should be harmonised. Controlled specimen and data access agreements are essential. The South African National Health Act (NHA) and its Regulations, that provide the foundation for the legal framework with regard to human tissue and research in South Africa, are silent on the issue of biobanks and the law lags behind while science and technology advance rapidly. The use of biobank assets will lead to significant benefits in human health and should be encouraged while taking account of the associated ethical, legal and social issues and working towards a balance between these two positions.http://www.sajbl.org.za/index.php/sajbl/article/download/428/406 |
| spellingShingle | A Dhai S Mahomed I Sanne Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections South African Journal of Bioethics and Law |
| title | Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections |
| title_full | Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections |
| title_fullStr | Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections |
| title_short | Biobanks and human health research: Balancing progress and protections |
| title_sort | biobanks and human health research balancing progress and protections |
| url | http://www.sajbl.org.za/index.php/sajbl/article/download/428/406 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adhai biobanksandhumanhealthresearchbalancingprogressandprotections AT smahomed biobanksandhumanhealthresearchbalancingprogressandprotections AT isanne biobanksandhumanhealthresearchbalancingprogressandprotections |