Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee - 12/3-4/92 
Mr. Barton proposed the deletion the last sentence of the second paragraph because it 
offers only one approach of a number of alternative options. The letter should explain 
that it is unfair to expect individuals to absorb unpredictable and potentially substantial 
medical costs. This statement would inform the NIH Director that there is a problem, 
but leave flexibility in the form of a solution. He agreed with Dr. Parkman that this 
issue will undoubtedly arise in the development of a national health care program. This 
recommendation will probably be appreciated by the NIH Director and other people 
within the research community who want to emphasize that the future of biomedical 
research has to be taken into account during the early phases of discussion. 
Dr. Murray reiterated the comments made by Ms. Buc earlier in the meeting; namely, if 
people are informed enough to sign the consent document, then they should be 
considered informed enough to understand their financial obligations. 
Dr. Parkman stated that if society believes that they will benefit from biomedical 
research as a whole, then the financial responsibility is to society. To say that an 
institution is responsible for coverage is inappropriate. 
Dr. Secundy stated that it is not incumbent on the RAC to resolve this issue, but to 
decide whether to take a position relative to the acknowledgement that this issue is a 
matter of human concern and fairness. The RAC should not attempt to resolve this 
problem; the committee should simply bring this matter to the attention of the NIH 
Director. 
Dr. Parkman stated that the draft letter could be edited. The question is whether the 
RAC wants to take a position of any kind on this issue relative to the NIH Director. 
Committee Motion 
A motion was made by Mr. Barton and seconded by Dr. Secundy to approve the letter 
with the following changes: (1) add the following sentence to the end of the first 
paragraph, This situation occurs in most areas of medical research , (2) delete the last 
sentence of the second paragraph starting, In my judgement..., and (3) change the word 
might to should and delete the phrase NIH funded from the third paragraph. 
Dr. Walters asked Dr. Parkman if there were any changes that could be introduced into 
the letter that would persuade him to endorse this letter. Dr. Parkman said that even 
with all these modifications, he will vote against the letter because the statements about 
divergence of policy, etc., are not part of the issue. The issue is the concern that people 
who encounter non-negligent injury will be excluded from reimbursement of medical 
costs by the primary payer, either state or public, because the injury was generated as 
part of a research protocol. 
Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 16 
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