Ethical Issues Surrounding the Exportation of Samples from Developing Countries I

This is a two-part review of the ethical issues arising from the exportation of biological samples from the developing world. With the burgeoning of research in the developing world carried out in collaboration with partners from the developed world there has been a corresponding increase in the exportation of samples for various reasons. This has raised a number of ethical issues, ranging from the purpose of exporting the samples to the ownership of the exported samples. Objective: To explore and discuss the main ethical issues arising from the exportation of samples from the developing to the developed world in general and using the case of Zambia. Methods: A review of the current existing literature on the issue of exportation of biological samples and biobanking was carried out. Part I of the review will consider exportation of biological samples in general whereas Part Il will address the Zambian situation and discuss the developments in depth.