World Health Organization Endorses An Experimental Ebola Drug

The World Health Organization is thinking outside the box in order to combat the unprecedented Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In response to the severity and complexity of Ebola, on Aug. 11, 2014, "WHO convened a consultation to consider and assess the ethical implications for clinical decision-making of the potential use of unregistered interventions," states the World Health Organization.

The panel gathered "included bioethicists, infectious disease experts, researchers and a patient safety" to discuss these vaccines and treatments, reports NPR. Currently, two American missionaries and a Spanish priest have received the experiemental serum called ZMapp.

Although few doses of this serum are available, WHO is working on increasing production and speeding up clinical trials to allow increased availability later this year. Ethical issues such as "transparency about all aspects of care, informed consent, freedom of choice, confidentiality, respect for the person, preservation of dignity and involvement of the community" were highlighted during this meeting.

Further details will be released in "a report of the meeting proceedings will be available to the public" by Aug. 17, 2014, according to WHO.