Book review: Law and Ethics in Biomedical Research
Law and Ethics in Biomedical Research: Regulation, conflict of interest, and liability. Edited by Trudo Lemmens and Duff R. Waring. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006. Hardcover: ISBN 0802089763, $65; paper: ISBN 0802086438, $35.
This book is a must-read for any physician, whether involved in research practice or not. While portions of this book have appeared in other publications, the sum of this book is an excellent précis on research ethics and sets the foundation for what is and what is not professional practice for physicians who conduct clinical research.
The book is also uniquely written for a Canadian audience, and cites important Canadian ethical and legal foundations. The book opens with a poignant piece written by Paul Gelsinger, father of Jesse Gelsinger, outlining the tragic circumstances under which his son was involved in a gene transfer clinical trial. Specific topics include research regulation, conflict of interest, and liability.