There is not a cure for HIV yet, but there is an effectivetreatment for reducing the likelihood of transmission of HIV froman infected mother to her unborn child (or born child, throughbreast milk). In the absence of treatment, the likelihood oftransmission averages about 25%. In collaboration with EasternMediterranean University Faculty of Pharmacy, a Cyprus based,private pharmaceutical company KuntePharma develop a new drugcalled HIV-OFF. Researchers from the university and KuntePharma,travel to X country in Africa and ask 200 pregnant HIV-positivemothers there to participate in a trial for a new drug thatreduces, “from mother to child” HIV transmission. It is said that,the reasons of choosing Africa are: “Compared to Cyprus it wouldcost much less and the fact that laws and regulations allow moreflexibility to conduct the research in the X country”. The give 100women a placebo, and they give 100 women HIV-LESS. Of the 100HIV-LESS children, only 1 contract HIV. Of the 100 placebochildren, 44 do. In this study, 45 children contract HIV, when itis likely that, if all the participants were given HIV-LESS, lesswould have. Are the scientists morally responsible for thetransmission of HIV to more children in this trial? Remembering theconcepts Consent, Placebo, Risk-benefit-harm, The Rights of thePatients, exploitation; respect for persons and utilitarianapproaches and others that you might think relevant to this case,which were discussed during the course, discuss if this trial isethical? You might compare the dynamics of this case with historicexamples that caused drastic changes in understanding ofexperimentations on human beings and formed the present day ethicalprinciples and laws.