ANTI-CORRUPTION MECHANISMS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH: LEGAL AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES

Abstract

This article is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of anti-corruption mechanisms in medical research through the lens of legal and ethical challenges, with a particular focus on research aimed at the prevention of alcohol and drug intoxication. The relevance of this topic is due to the growing corruption risks in both the medical and scientific fields, manifested in opaque funding, conflicts of interest, manipulation of research results, and violations of scientific integrity principles. Such phenomena undermine public trust in science, reduce the effectiveness of preventive programs, and may have direct negative consequences for public health. The article substantiates that research on alcohol and drug intoxication prevention is particularly vulnerable to corruption due to its significant social importance, involvement of both public and private funding, and the inclusion of vulnerable population groups. The author analyzes the main forms of corruption in medical research, including data falsification and selective reporting, concealed funding sources, violations of clinical trial protocols, and ineffective ethical oversight. Special attention is given to institutional and legal mechanisms for preventing corruption in Ukraine. The role of the National Anti-Corruption Agency, law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption courts, and ethical committees of medical institutions is examined. The significance of internal anti-corruption procedures, compliance systems, internal audits, and staff training as practical tools to reduce corruption risks in scientific activities is emphasized. In the context of international standards, the article presents a comparative analysis of Ukrainian practices with the provisions of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association, WHO guidelines, CIOMS recommendations, and clinical trial registration standards. It is demonstrated that international approaches emphasize transparency in funding, mandatory disclosure of conflicts of interest, registration of studies in open registers, and the publication of all results, including negative ones. At the same time, several issues related to the implementation of these standards in Ukrainian scientific practice are identified, including fragmented control and limited effectiveness of integrity monitoring mechanisms. The article also incorporates findings from contemporary foreign and domestic research on scientific misconduct, corruption risks in medicine, and the role of institutional oversight, which will serve as an additional theoretical and methodological basis for further scholarly investigations. The conclusions propose recommendations for improving legislative, institutional, and organizational mechanisms for preventing corruption in medical research, considering the specific nature of alcohol and drug intoxication prevention studies and the need to enhance public trust in scientific results.