Ethical issues in non-intervention trials for thyroid cancer. Issue 3 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Angelos, P.; Hartl, D.M.; Shah, J.P.; Nixon, I.J.; Owen, R.P.; Rinaldo, A.; Rodrigo, J.P.; Shaha, A.R.; Silver, C.E.; Suárez, C.; Ferlito, A.
• Is Part Of: European journal of surgical oncology. Volume 44:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Ethics -- Thyroid cancer -- Equipoise -- Non-intervention -- Research ethics -- Clinical trials; Oncology -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Medical Oncology -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- surgery -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Oncologie; Chirurgie (geneeskunde); Electronic journals; Electronic journals -- Sciences; Electronic journals -- Medicine; Electronic journals; 616.994059005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2017.03.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-7983

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, the increasing numbers of small, apparently indolent thyroid cancers diagnosed in the world have encouraged investigators to consider non-intervention as an alternative to surgical management. In the following pages, the prospect of a non-intervention trial for thyroid cancer is considered with attention to the ethical issues that such a trial might raise. Such a non-intervention trial is analyzed relative to 7 ethical considerations: the social or scientific value of the research, the scientific validity of the trial, the necessity of fair selection of participants, a favorable risk-benefit ratio for trial participants, independent review of the trial, informed consent, and allowing the study participants to withdraw from the trial. A non-intervention trial for thyroid cancer is also considered relative to the central concept of equipoise.