Mains Practice Questions

Case Studies

Ravi is the Director of Research and Development (R&D) at a leading pharmaceutical company. The company is on the verge of launching a new drug that has shown promising results in clinical trials. Ravi's team has been tasked with selecting a contract research organization (CRO) to conduct the final phase of trials. He notices that his sister, who runs a CRO that specializes in clinical trials, has submitted a bid for the contract.

While Ravi knows that his sister’s CRO has a good reputation, he is also aware that her company has struggled to secure contracts recently due to increased competition. Selecting her company would help her financially but could also raise concerns about nepotism and compromise the integrity of the trial process. The company's board trusts Ravi’s judgment and allows him to make the final decision.

Questions:

(a) In what ways could Ravi's personal connection to the CRO impact ethical considerations in the research process?

(b) What course of action should Ravi take?

(c) How can Ravi justify his decision?