Human 'guinea pigs' or privileged pioneers? Compassionate use of experimental treatments

Compassion use has been rarely out of the news in the last year. Whilst recent high profile cases have involved children, compassionate use is by no means restricted to paediatrics, and stakeholders have much to learn from each other. 

The idea that a treatment that has not yet completed clinical trials can be made available in specified circumstances for patients in dire need is an appealing but problematic one. ’When should this ‘work-around’ be applied and when should it not?’ is a question that troubles patients and their families, clinicians, ethics committee members, regulators and the developers of those treatments.

Who should authorise compassionate use – clinical ethics or research ethics committees, patients or the judiciary?

This meeting will offer much-needed education on (and discussion of) the concept of ‘compassionate use,’ at the boundary between medical research and clinical practice. We anticipate that the day will be of educational interest to clinicians, members of legal and regulatory professions,patient advocates, ethicists, and members of the press. 

Speakers will address the issue from a number of relevant perspectives including: clinical, legal and regulatory, ethical, the media and commerce. The meeting is particularly relevant training for anyone who may potentially be involved in discussing, negotiating or reporting a ‘compassionate-use’ case.  

Topics include:

• The issue of ‘compassionate use’ in healthcare including: concept, law, regulation, healthcare application, ethics, politics and public engagement.  
• Sharing of expert knowledge from those who have situated experience of compassionate use in a professional context.  
• The sources of ethical, regulatory and legal support for healthcare professionals, patients and other stakeholders involved in instances that can be defines as compassionate use in healthcare.