'Science in the Service of Human Rights'.

• Author: Kent, George
• Position: The Chronicle Library Shelf

Richard Claude * understands science and human rights. By building a bridge between the two, he contributes to both. His analysis is based on what he calls "the binary theory of science rights", in which there is clear recognition of the scientist's claim to intellectual property and related rights, and the general public's claim to the benefits of science. "Balance, not dominance, is the key to this equilibrium." He identifies four core elements of the right to enjoy the benefits of science: an environment of freedom, to assure that scientists may seek the truth without undue pressures from Government or others; protection from harmful applications of science; equality among beneficiaries, in the sense that everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; and international cooperation to assure that these benefits are enjoyed in all countries, particularly developing countries.

Claude illuminates these principles by examining various violations, such as the Nazi doctors and the infamous Tuskegee study in the United States in which African-American men with syphilis were denied medication by Public Health Service researchers so that they could study the progress of the disease. The cases he uses help us to understand the principles; however, he does not explore the many ways in which the issues remain problematic. To take just one example, the United States Federal Government's budget for defense-related research and development (R&D) for fiscal year 2003 is about $58 billion, more than its R&D budget for all other sectors combined. With research budgets so sharply skewed, what is the meaning of the freedom and neutrality of science? And how does the massive budget for military research protect us from harmful applications of science?

Claude illustrates the challenge of assuring that people enjoy their right to the benefits of the advancement of science by raising the issue of securing access to life-saving drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS. For example, HIV-positive mothers face a serious dilemma in deciding how they should feed their newborn infants. Breastfeeding carries the risk of transmitting the virus to the infant, but formula-feeding also has its risks, especially in resource-poor settings. According to major international agencies dealing with HIV/AIDS, the final decision is to be made by mothers on the basis of "informed choice". Voluntary counselling and testing are to be made...