Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Does Public Engagement Have a Role in Biomedical Clinical Research?
Rosamond Rhodes1,2, Gary Ostertag1,2
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Bioethics
|May 19, 2026
Summary
Public engagement in clinical research (PER) is increasingly demanded, yet this paper argues against its relevance. PER undermines research accountability, diverts resources, and complicates processes, lacking evidence of benefits.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Science and Technology Studies
- Political Philosophy
Background:
- Growing demands for public engagement in research (PER) over the last two decades.
- Concurrent rise in skepticism towards expertise and science.
- Need to critically evaluate the role and impact of PER in contemporary research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the relevance and justification of public engagement in clinical research (PER).
- To analyze PER through the lens of John Rawls's Political Liberalism and psychological insights.
- To determine if PER is a matter of justice and its practical implications in clinical research.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis drawing on John Rawls's Political Liberalism.
- Examination of psychological studies on expert vs. lay thinking.
- Review of evidence regarding the benefits of PER.
- Consideration of practical experience in clinical research.
Main Results:
- PER advocacy may conflict with the 'duty of civility' essential for liberal democracy.
- PER is not an issue of justice, as argued through Rawlsian principles.
- Significant cognitive differences exist between expert and lay thinking.
- Absence of empirical evidence demonstrating benefits of PER in clinical research.
Conclusions:
- Public engagement in clinical research (PER) lacks a justifiable role.
- PER negatively impacts research by undermining accountability, diverting resources, and increasing complexity.
- Clinical research should not incorporate PER due to its detrimental effects and lack of proven benefits.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:28Preclinical Development: Overview
Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is: