Risk to Nonparticipants in HIV Remission Studies With Treatment Interruption: A Symposium.

Nir Eyal,Steven G Deeks

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiz173

Abstract

Ethical guidelines and recommendations for human subjects research typically focus on protecting the individuals who directly participate in that research. However, additional people, including sex partners of research participants, can also face harms and burdens from medical studies. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure–related research, a persistent ethical and practical challenge surrounds the use of analytical antiretroviral treatment interruptions. The challenge is usually discussed in relation to risks to study participants, but serious dangers accrue to nonparticipants, including sex partners of study participants. This multidisciplinary supplement relays the risks for nonparticipating sex partners in HIV cure–related studies and addresses the ethical dilemmas raised by these studies, with recommendations for researchers, advocates, sponsors, and oversight bodies.

Highlights

Ethical guidelines and recommendations for human subjects research typically focus on protecting the individuals who directly participate in that research
This multidisciplinary supplement relays the risks for nonparticipating sex partners in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure–related studies and addresses the ethical dilemmas raised by these studies, with recommendations for researchers, advocates, sponsors, and oversight bodies
Based on observations made in natural infection and in some of the posttreatment control cohorts, a period of acute viremia will likely occur before the immune system is able to respond and regain control

Summary

Introduction

Ethical guidelines and recommendations for human subjects research typically focus on protecting the individuals who directly participate in that research. Risk to Nonparticipants in HIV Remission Studies With Treatment Interruption: A Symposium The challenge is usually discussed in relation to risks to study participants, but serious dangers accrue to nonparticipants, including sex partners of study participants.

Results

Conclusion