THE ROLE OF MEDICAL-SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ETHICAL COMMISSIONS IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##

Published: Aug 13, 2025

  Sevda Aydin Karimova

Abstract

After gaining independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan has been carrying out a series of reforms to bring the Soviet sosialist economic, political, legal and administrative system in line with advanced world standards, reconstruction and modern scientific bases, creating a legislative framework for all these processes. The policy of transition from a totalitarian system to a democratic system, creating the foundations of a socially oriented market economy, ensuring social protection and protection of human rights, achieving serious national and spiritual unity had to go through difficult stages and be subjected to pressure from various political forces. In our opinion, the most difficult area in the implementation of social policy, which should provide everyone and everyone, is closely linked with the protection of public health, social protection and the creation of decent living conditions. Today, the world's best practices are being studied, the positive traditions formed over the years are being preserved, new technologies and management models are being tested, improved and applied to the new environment. At present, Azerbaijan is in the process of establishing ethical commissions for medical and scientific research to protect and ensure human rights, especially for patients rights. They need to be developed and a number of measures taken to ensure the sustainability of their work. The main directions of the initial steps are to develop a strategic plan for the establishment and organization of ethical commissions in the country to ensure sustainable and systematic activities, to conduct a needs analysis with the participation of experts in the field of scientific research, researchers and members of the ethics commission. Providing trainings in accordance with the results of needs analysis, as well as training of trainers, preparation of scientific literature and materials, formation of methodological aids, increase of knowledge and skills of officials working in the field of ethics commissions, establishment of civil society institutions in the field of bioethics, public awareness there is a need to increase. We hope that the activities and efforts of Azerbaijani health workers and lawyers in the field of bioethics, deontology, medical law and ethics will contribute to serious reforms in medicine and health in the country.

How to Cite

Karimova, S. A. (2025). THE ROLE OF MEDICAL-SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ETHICAL COMMISSIONS IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, (3), 18-26. https://doi.org/10.30525/2592-8813-2025-3-3
Article views: 1 | PDF Downloads: 0

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##

Keywords

bioethics, law, human rights, research ethics committee, medical ethics committee, criminal legislation

References
1. Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS), & World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). International Ethical Guidelines for Healthrelated Research Involving Humans. https://cioms.ch/publications/product/international-ethical-guidelines-for-health-related-research-involving-humans/
2. Report for 2021 of the Department of Work with Ethical Commissions of the Department of Scientific Research and Education of the public legal entity Administration of the Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB). (in Azerbaijani)
3. Guidelines on Good Clinical Practice, approved by the decision No. 36 of the Collegium of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 18, 2020. 01.09.2020. https://e-qanun.az/framework/45909 (in Azerbaijani)
4. World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participations (1964). https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/
5. Council of Europe. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (1997). Oviedo. https://rm.coe.int/168007cf98
6. Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (30.12.1999) Chapter “Crimes against life and health” of the section “Crimes against personality” https://e-qanun.az/framework/46947 (in Azerbaijani)
7. Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Protection of Population Health”. (26.06.1997). https://e-qanun.az/framework/4078 (in Azerbaijani)
8. Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Medicinal Products" (22.12.2006). https://e-qanun.az/framework/12128 (in Azerbaijani)
9. Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues" (20.10.2020). https://e-qanun.az/framework/46447 (in Azerbaijani)
10. Rules for conducting scientific research, pre-clinical studies and clinical trials of medicinal products approved by the Resolution No. 83 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 30, 2010 (in Azerbaijani)
11. Decision of the College of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the approval of the “Guidelines on Good Clinical Practice” (18.08.2020). https://frameworks.e-qanun.az/45/ha_45909.html (in Azerbaijani)
12. Establishing Bioethics Committees – Guide No1. UNESCO. Paris, France. (2005). https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000139309
13. Establishing Bioethics Committees – Guide No2. UNESCO. Paris, France. 2006.
14. Establishing Bioethics Committees – Guide No3. UNESCO. Paris, France. 2007.
15. Guide for Research Ethics Committee Members. Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI) Council of Europe. CDBI/INF(2011)2, Strasbourg, France. 7th February 2011.https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-and-biomedicine/guide-for-research-ethics-committees-members
16. Karimova S.A. (2021). The role of Hacettepe University Bioethics Research Center in the establishment of ethics committees in Azerbaijan. Ankara. 4(2):179-183 http://www.deontoloji.hacettepe.edu.tr/unescobiyoetik/pdf/2021%204%202/azerbaycan.pdf (in Turkish)
17. Görkey SH. (2009). Ethics committees: a conceptual confusion we are trying to overcome. Hacettepe Medical Journal. Ankara. № 40. p: 78–83. (in Turkish)
18. Research ethics committees: Basic concepts for capacity-building. World Health Organization 2009. WHO Document Production Services, Geneva, Switzerland.
19. Structure of the International Bioethics, Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Committee of UNESCO in Azerbaijan changed. 2016. https://science.gov.az/en/news/open/3912
20. Turkish Penal Code. 26.09.2004. https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.5237.pdf
21. Demir M. (2011). A Study on the Awareness of Clinical Ethical Problems among Hacettepe University Hospitals Physicians. Hospital Ethics Committee Model Proposal. Ankara. (in Turkish)
22. Regulations of the Ethics Committee of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Advanced Training of Doctors named after A. Aliyev. http://www.adhti.edu.az/az.php?go=ek (in Azerbaijani)
23. Council of Europe. Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, concerning Biomedical Research. Strasbourg. 25.01.2005. https://rm.coe.int/168008371a