The national research ethics committee: An elementary need in Honduras.

Abstract

Scientific research and research ethics in Honduras have undergone constant transformation and restructuring over the years. At present, there is little legislation in this area in the country. A nationally recognized entity has not yet been created to ensure the protection of the autonomy and rights of participants in human research studies at the national level, or to regulate the operation and organization of all the processes carried out by the institutional Research Ethics Committees already formed. The objective of this work is to make a critical reflection on the creation of a national research ethics committee in Honduras, emphasizing the Network of Research Ethics Committees, the conflicts of interest in the conformation of Research Ethics Committees, the training of their members and the national legislation on research ethics in the country. It is a basic need to form a regulatory body for the ethical aspects of scientific research in Honduras, which is responsible for ensuring the protection of our population, mainly those who are vulnerable and who are subjected to multicenter studies, clinical trials of drugs and vaccines, among other studies that involve the direct participation of human beings and other living species.