Ethics of Phage Therapy

Abstract

Phage therapy is an experimental method of treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Patients can get access to phages either by enrolling in a clinical trial or during compassionate treatment. Very few clinical trials of phages have been conducted to date. Therefore, so far most patients have got access to phage therapy on a compassionate use basis. The main objective of this chapter is to discuss main issues relevant to ethics of clinical trials and compassionate use of phage therapy. Discussion of compassionate use focuses on whether phage therapy is compliant with the four main principles of medical ethics including non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, and respect for the patient’s autonomy. Moreover, we discuss ethical guidelines which might be helpful for doctors who consider performing phage therapy on a compassionate use basis.