Identify Ethical Issues: There are a few potential ethical issues here, including the lack of compensation to community assistants and the long term benefits intended by this research. The questions then would be: should it be required to pay the community members and what is the ultimate incentive for the researchers (is it publication focused or in place for future research)?

Is it ethical to conduct the study?

Should communities or individuals be compensated? And how should the research group compensate them?

• They can be compensated in non-monetary alternatives for example providing food, education, connection, or anything they need.
• It can be inappropriate to provide monetary compensation

 

Step 1:

• 10 academic researchers spend 2 weeks testing water sources to study a disease-causing pathogen only found in communities across Lesotho
• Lesotho is a low to middle income country
• Requires significant assistance from the community to locate water sources
  • Community is not being paid
• Goal is to understand the lifecycle and characteristics of a specific pathogen, which is found only in this region of Lesotho
• Publications are expected of the study
• This study can help to resolve this pathogen issue

 

Step 2:

• Researchers (primary): release publications about lifecycle and characteristics of pathogen that contributes to scientific community / understand the pathogen, help the community, educate others on the issue
• The Lesotho communities (primary): want safe drinking water, environmental knowledge of community and long term health benefits, bring attention to the issue
• Scientific community (secondary)
• Other communities/country with neglected tropical diseases (secondary): transferable research
• Investors from global non-profit health organization (secondary): improved world health conditions in low income countries, brings acknowledgement
• Regional organizations (secondary): continuous help for the community and brings acknowledgement by establishing good deeds

 

Step 3:

• Researchers: taking advantage of power dynamics? (i.e. not paying because they know the community needs health benefits), have the credentials?, are they just seeking out publication or genuine solutions?
• Communities: overall health of the community, trust of the researchers, world attention and focus on the health impact of the pathogen
• Investors from global non-profit health organization: quality research and publication

 

Solution:

• Different forms of compensation (money, food, etc.)
• Partner with global/local organization who has connections in Lesotho
  • Pros:
    • Less travel
    • Eliminate power dynamics
    • More resources
    • Relieve monetary stresses
    • Mutual benefit for the community and researchers
    • Prevents Hit & Run research because frequent follow-ups required for organizations
  • Cons:
    • Liability
    • Coordination in a large group
    • Required information share to the organizations
• Provide education knowledge in exchange for local help
• All of the above can be combined into one solution