🧵 Trump’s USAID funding freeze abruptly halted critical global health research, abandoning participants mid-trial. A gross ethical violation. @bachynski.bsky.social & I explain what happened and why it matters @bmj.com . ⬇️ www.bmj.com/content/388/... - ThreadSky

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martinmckee.bsky.social • 11 days ago

🧵 Trump’s USAID funding freeze abruptly halted critical global health research, abandoning participants mid-trial. A gross ethical violation. @bachynski.bsky.social & I explain what happened and why it matters @bmj.com . ⬇️
https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj.r289

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martinmckee.bsky.social•11 days ago

1/ The Declaration of Helsinki (1964) & Belmont Report (1979) established ethical duties to research participants: respect, beneficence, and justice. No ethical research can abandon these principles.

martinmckee.bsky.social•11 days ago

2/ Trump’s executive order froze USAID foreign aid for 90+ days, instantly halting ongoing medical trials worldwide. This left thousands of participants stranded without treatment or monitoring.

martinmckee.bsky.social•11 days ago

3/ Examples of potential harm: 🔹 South African women with vaginal rings with no follow-up care. 🔹 interruption of oversight of Malaria vaccine trial participants 🔹 HIV PrEP users in CATALYST trial risk drug resistance. 🔹 Ugandan children in a TB trial lost access to life-saving medication.

martinmckee.bsky.social•11 days ago

4/ This violates Article 10 of the Declaration of Helsinki, which prohibits weakening research participant protections based on national policies.

martinmckee.bsky.social•11 days ago

5/ How should the scientific community respond?
Seek immediate IRB guidance.
Demand that universities & professional bodies speak out.
Use legal challenges where possible.
Avoid self-censorship & anticipatory compliance.
Speak with one voice—ethical standards must be maintained.

martinmckee.bsky.social•11 days ago

6/ This is not just bureaucracy—these are real people, abandoned mid-trial, suffering preventable harm. The scientific community must make it clear: research ethics are not optional, and political decisions must not override participant safety.

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