[Modern ethical problems in environmental epidemiology].

The author presents a summary account on the session of the International workshop on ethical and philosophical issues in environmental epidemiology convened by the Rome Division of ECEH WHO and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (North Carolina, USA, Sept. 16-18, 1994). Twenty-one epidemiologists and workers concerned with ethics and philosophy from Europe, North America and other regions were invided. The subject of discussion was a definition of the discipline of environmental epidemiology and concurrently ethical and philosophical problems of the discipline. It was stated that it is essential to adopt ethical guidelines in the sphere of environmental epidemiology. It was recommended that, where reliable safeguards of processed personal data exist, access to the pertinent databases could be granted without previous informed consent of probands. Informed consent must be obtained only in later stages of research if direct contact with the individual subject is essential. Recommendations were adopted for practitioners, universities and training centres, professional organizations and institutions as well as sponsors interested in environmental epidemiology. It was emphasized that efforts to improve ethical awareness and practice must become and integral part of training and practical activities of all concerned.