ABSTRACT
Clinically approved cell and gene therapies are opening up future possibilities to treat and prevent myriad diseases, which may include allergic diseases. In South Africa, this could help alleviate the high disease burden and economic cost of treating such diseases. However, even if viable gene-editing options to treat, cure and prevent allergic diseases become safe, effective and affordable for the South African market within the next few decades, the ethical implications and challenges of perceptions, regulation and oversight to ensure safety and equitable access remain. It would be important for all stakeholders involved, including the public and physicians, clinicians and ethicists on clinical and research ethics committees, to be informed about the possibilities, to engage in discussions with one another and to redress any gaps in knowledge. It would be especially important to determine whether cases for gene-editing aimed at allergy would be applied for therapeutic purposes or for enhancement. Much research and discussion remain to be embarked upon;however, it is imperative that research and engagement are expanded and prioritised.
ABSTRACT
South Africa (SA) is a country of contrasts, with abundant resources, hard-won civil rights and a diverse population. Woven into the fabric of our society is a large divide between its poorest and its wealthiest members. In this article we highlight the vulnerabilities in our society that have been amplified by the COVID-19 crisis. Based on recent projections, it is very likely that the healthcare system will be overwhelmed. We acknowledge the recognition by government and civil society of these vulnerabilities, and note that difficult decisions will need to be made with regard to resource allocation. Our plea, however, is to ensure that human dignity and the principle of distributive justice are maintained, and that when difficult decisions are made, vulnerable people do not suffer disproportionately. Furthermore, it is of great concern that there is no national directive guiding resource allocation, prioritisation and triage decisions in both public and private hospitals. The Health Professions Council of SA should, as a matter of urgency, issue guidance on priority-setting and triage decisions in the context of COVID-19, based on distributive justice principles.
ABSTRACT
Containing the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates the use of personal information without the consent of the person. The protection of personal information is fundamental to the rights that ensure an open and democratic society. When regulations that limit the right to privacy are issued outside of the democratic process, every effort must be made to protect personal information and privacy. The limitation of human rights must be treated as an exception to the norm, and any regulations should be drafted to ensure minimum limitation of rights, rather than to the minimum acceptable standard. The contact tracing regulations included in the COVID-19 disaster regulations include some basic principles to ensure privacy;however, other important principles are not addressed. These include principles of transparency and data security. The envisaged future use of human data for research purposes, albeit de-identified, needs to be addressed by the COVID-19 designated judge appointed under the regulations.