Artorrios o SouthWoods strolls into the chamber. “Hokay,” he addresses the few individuals present, “Thank you for coming. Here, as mentioned in the invitation, is my government’s latest proposal for a GA resolution. We hope that it is sufficiently non-controversial to be generally acceptable…”
Re-Submitted Version (03rd May 2018)
Traditional Medicine
Category: Health Area of Effect: Research Proposed by: Bears Armed Mission
Description: The World Assembly,
Aware that nations generally have laws against advertising or distributing substances and other therapies for medicinal use unless those substances or therapies have been tested extensively for both effectiveness and safety;
Noting that many nations also have patent systems which do not allow the establishment of monopolies over the production or distribution of products, in cases where prior public use of such products has demonstrably existed;
Realizing that this combination of laws is likely to deter pharmaceutical businesses from testing substances for which medicinal properties have traditionally been claimed, and thus to hinder the legal distribution of those potential remedies for various medical problems;
Believing that this problem needs to be solved, for the public good.
Hereby,
1). Declares that the use of untested substances as medications potentially poses an extreme hazard to member nations’ populations, not only due to possible harmful side-effects but also because some people might rely on them to the exclusion of more reliable modern alternatives.
2). Defines the term ‘Traditional Medicine’, for the purpose of this resolution, as meaning any medication or other therapeutic technique that is used because of popular belief rather than scientific proof for its effectiveness, and whose use is sufficiently customary that it could not be patented in legal systems whose laws do not allow granting patents for products with provable prior use.
3). Strongly urges member nations’ governments: (a) To arrange proper testing for all substances used in traditional medicine within their jurisdictions, except where the collection of those substances would harm endangered species or violate the bodily autonomy of sapient beings, and to publicize the results; (b) To arrange proper testing, likewise, for all other therapies used in traditional medicine within their jurisdictions; (c) To ban the manufacture and distribution, of any traditional medication for which testing has not confirmed reasonable safety and predictability of dosage; (d) To ban the practice of any other traditional medical technique for which testing has not confirmed reasonable safety; (e) To ban likewise any traditional medication or other traditional medical theory that has been proven reasonably safe but whose effectiveness has not been proven, if a better alternative is available, unless it will be used only alongside that alternative (and can safely be thus used) — rather than in lieu of that alternative — for the possibility of a helpful placebo effect; (f) To ensure that the collection of material from organisms of any species for use in medicinal products does not endanger any species, for example by requiring that the material be taken only from farmed organisms rather than from wild ones; (g) To ensure that any sentient life-forms farmed for this purpose are kept, and the materials collected from them, humanely; (h) To promote research into synthesis of the active ingredients from those traditional medicines that research has proven effective and reasonably safe, so that versions of those medicines can be produced which will not have to rely on natural sources and for which dosages can probably be set more accurately than in the traditional forms.
4). Requires member nations’ governments: (a) To ban the manufacture and distribution of any traditional medications that could not be tested under the limits set by clause 3.a. of this resolution; (b) To ban the practice of any other traditional medical techniques that could not be tested under the limits set by clause 3.b. of this resolution; (c) To share all information that they have about the safety or effectiveness of traditional medicines with both their own nations' inhabitants and the World Assembly Scientific Programme (WASP).
5). Establishes a ‘Traditional Medicines Evaluation Agency’ within the WASP, and instructs this body to: (a) Compile and study the relevant data supplied to WASP by member nations; (b) Arrange proper testing of any substances and techniques used in traditional medicine within member nations for which such data is currently lacking, except as limited by clause 3.a. of this resolution; (c) Distribute this data to member nations’ governments.
Traditional Medicine
Category: Health Area of Effect: Research
Description: The World Assembly,
Aware that nations generally have laws against advertising or distributing substances and other therapies for medicinal use unless those substances or therapies have been tested extensively for both effectiveness and safety;
Noting that many nations also have patent systems which do not allow the establishment of monopolies over the production or distribution of products, in cases where prior public use of such products has demonstrably existed;
Realizing that this combination of laws is likely to deter pharmaceutical businesses from testing substances for which medicinal properties have traditionally been claimed, and thus to hinder the legal distribution of those potential remedies for various medical problems;
Believing that this problem needs to be solved, for the public good.
Hereby,
1). Declares that the use of untested substances as medications potentially poses an extreme hazard to member nations’ populations, not only due to possible harmful side-effects but also because some people might rely on them to the exclusion of more reliable modern alternatives.
2). Defines the term ‘Traditional Medicine’, for the purpose of this resolution, as meaning any medication or other therapeutic technique what is used because of popular belief rather than scientific proof for its effectiveness, and whose use is sufficiently customary that it could not be patented in legal systems whose laws do not allow granting patents for products with provable prior use.
3). Strongly urges member nations’ governments: (a) To arrange proper testing for all substances used in traditional medicine within their jurisdictions, except where the collection of those substances would harm endangered species or violate the bodily autonomy of sapient beings, and to publicize the results; (b) To arrange proper testing, likewise, for all other therapies used in traditional medicine within their jurisdictions; (c) To ban the manufacture, advertisement, and distribution, of any traditional medication for which testing has not confirmed reasonable safety and predictability of dosage; (d) To ban the advertisement and practice of any other traditional medical technique for which testing has not confirmed reasonable safety; (e) To ban likewise any traditional medication or other traditional medical theory that has been proven reasonably safe but whose effectiveness has not been proven, if a better alternative is available, unless it will be used only alongside that alternative (and can safely be thus used) — rather than in lieu of that alternative — for the possibility of a helpful placebo effect; (f) To ensure that the collection of material from organisms of any species for use in medicinal products does not endanger any species, for example by requiring that the material be taken only from farmed organisms rather than from wild ones; (g) To ensure that any sentient life-forms farmed for this purpose are kept, and the materials collected from them, humanely; (h) To promote research into synthesis of the active ingredients from those traditional medicines that research has proven effective and reasonably safe, so that versions of those medicines can be produced which will not have to rely on natural sources and for which dosages can probably be set more accurately than in the traditional forms.
4). Requires member nations’ governments: (a) To ban the advertisement, manufacture, and distribution, of any traditional medications that could not be tested under the limits set by clause 3.a. of this resolution; (b) To ban the advertisement and practice of any other traditional medical techniques that could not be tested under the limits set by clause 3.b. of this resolution; (c) To share all information that they have about the safety or effectiveness of traditional medicines with both their own nation's inhabitants and the World Assembly Science Programme (WASP).
5). Establishes a ‘Traditional Medicines Evaluation Agency’ within the WASP, and instructs this body to: (a) Compile and study the relevant data supplied to WASP by member nations; (b) Arrange proper testing of any substances and techniques used in traditional medicine within member nations for which such data is currently lacking, except as limited by clause 3.a. of this resolution; (c) Distribute this data to member nations’ governments.
Traditional Medicines
Category: Health Area of Effect: Research
Description: The World Assembly,
Aware that nations generally have laws against advertising or distributing substances for medicinal use unless those substances have been tested extensively for both effectiveness and safety,
Noting that many nations also have patent systems which do not allow the establishment of monopolies over the production or distribution of products in cases where prior public use of such products has demonstrably existed,
Realizing that this combination of laws is likely to deter pharmaceutical businesses from testing substances for which medicinal properties have traditionally been claimed, and thus to hinder the legal distribution of those potential remedies for various medical problems,
Believing that this problem needs to be solved, for the public good;
Hereby,
1. Declares that the use of untested substances as medications potentially poses a serious hazard to member nations’ populations;
2. Defines the term ‘traditional medicines’, for the purpose of this resolution, as meaning medications whose use originated due to popular belief in their effectiveness rather than as inventions of the pharmaceutical industry, and that therefore cannot be patented in nations where patents are subject to a ‘prior use’ limitation; (This definition is a placeholder, and will be changed once I've decided on a better version.)
3. Strongly urges member nations’ governments... A) To arrange proper testing for all substances used in traditional medicines within their jurisdictions, except where the collection of those substances would harm endangered species or violate the bodily autonomy of sapient beings, and to publicize the results; B) To ban the manufacture, advertisement, and distribution, of any traditional medicines for which testing has not confirmed reasonable safety, predictability of dosage, and effectiveness; C) To ensure that the collection of material from organisms of any species for use in medicinal products does not endanger any species, for example by requiring that the material be taken only from farmed organisms rather than from wild ones; D) To ensure that any sentient life-forms farmed for this purpose are kept, and the materials collected from them, humanely; E) To promote research into synthesis of the active ingredients from those traditional medicines that research has proven effective and reasonably safe, so that versions of those medicines can be produced which will not have to rely on natural sources and for which dosages can probably be set more accurately than in the traditional forms;
4. Requires member nations’ governments... A) To ban the advertisement, manufacture, and distribution, of any traditional medicines that could not be tested under the limits set by clause 2.A of this resolution; B) To share all information that they have about the safety or effectiveness of traditional medicines with the World Assembly Science Programme (WASP);
5. Establishes a ‘Traditional Medicines Testing Agency’ within the WASP, and instructs this body to... A) Compile and study the relevant data supplied by member nations; B) Arrange proper testing of any substances used in traditional medicines within member nations for which such data is currently lacking, except as limited by clause 2.A of this resolution; C) Distribute this data to member nations’ governments.
Traditional Medicines
Category: Health Area of Effect: Research? Bioethics?
Description: The World Assembly,
Aware that nations generally have laws against advertising or distributing substances for medicinal use unless those substances have been tested extensively for both effectiveness and safety,
Noting that many nations also have patent systems which do not allow the establishment of monopolies over the production or distribution of products in cases where prior public use of such products has demonstrably existed,
Realizing that this combination of laws is likely to deter pharmaceutical businesses from testing substances for which medicinal properties have traditionally been claimed, and thus to hinder the legal distribution of those potential remedies for various medical problems,
Believing that this problem needs to be solved, for the public good;
Hereby,
1). Declares that the use of untested substances as medications potentially poses a serious hazard to member nations’ populations;
2). Strongly urges member nations’ governments _ A/ To arrange proper testing for all substances used in traditional medicines within their jurisdictions, except where the collection of those substances would harm endangered species or violate the bodily autonomy of sapient beings, and to publicize the results; B/ To ban the advertisement, manufacture, and distribution, of any traditional medicines for which testing has not confirmed reasonable safety and effectiveness; C/ To ensure that the collection of material from organisms of any species for use in medicinal products does not endanger any species, for example by requiring that the material be taken only from farmed organisms rather than from wild ones; D/ To ensure that any sentient life-forms farmed for this purpose are kept, and the materials collected from them, humanely;
3). Requires member nations’ governments _ A/ To ban the advertisement, manufacture, and distribution, of any traditional medicines that could not be tested under the limits set by clause 2.A of this resolution; B/ To share all information that they have about the safety or effectiveness of traditional medicines with the World Assembly Science Programme (WASP);
4). Establishes a ‘Traditional Medicines Testing Agency’ within WASP, and instructs this body to _ A/ Compile and study the relevant data supplied by member nations; B/ Arrange proper testing of any substances used in traditional medicines within member nations for which such data is currently lacking, except as limited by clause 2.A of this resolution; C/ Distribute this data to member nations’ governments.
OOC: This obviously contains elements that fall under Research but also ones that fall under Bioethics. I will be discussing the question of which Area-of-Effect is the most appropriate with the other members of GenSec, but am open to suggestions on this point from the rest of you as well.
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 9:07 am
by Separatist Peoples
"Hell yes, support."
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 10:04 am
by The First German Order
"Seems good to me. Support."
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:26 am
by Kenmoria
"I would put the word “the” between “within” and “WASP” in clause 4."
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:33 pm
by Whovian Tardisia
"Aside from the formatting, we have but one concern. We can't quite see what is meant by Clause 2, Subclause D:"
To ensure that any sentient life-forms farmed for this purpose are kept, and the materials collected from them, humanely;
"Is a distinction being made between sentience and sapience here? If so, we would like to see it explained. If not, it seems alarmingly unethical to 'farm' sapient beings, and we would be forced to oppose."
As for the formatting, the capital letter followed by a slash denoting the sub-clauses is rather jarring to me. I've always been partial to a lowercase letter followed by a closed parentheses. This is fully my opinion though, feel free to ignore it.
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 6:08 pm
by Christian Democrats
What is a traditional medicine?
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 6:09 pm
by Likar
"Support my man!"
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 8:29 pm
by Imperium Anglorum
Aww yea. I'd call it the Making Your Traditional Healers Pure Act, the MYTH Pure Act.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 12:21 am
by Arotania
This generally looks reasonable to us.
Might it be possible to add another subclause under 2) that encourages reasearch for identification of the active ingredient(s) contained in natural substances and possibly research into synthesis of the active ingredients identified in this process?
Medicine from traditional, 'natural' sources for which the active ingredients are not known often has the problem that the content of said active ingredients in the medicinal substances is hard to control and can lead to adverse sideeffects. Known active ingredients on the other hand can be purified and quantified (and ideally even sourced from purely chemical or microbial sources, further protecting its original biological source) and therefore patient safety can be improve immensely.
"Thank you". (OOC: Okay with 'Research' as the area of effect?)
The First German Order wrote:"Seems good to me. Support."
"Thank you."
Kenmoria wrote:"I would put the word “the” between “within” and “WASP” in clause 4."
“Hr’rmm, I think that it works well enough either way, but the current text is well within the maximum length allowed so I’ll add that “the” unless more people here object to the idea than support it.”
Whovian Tardisia wrote:"Aside from the formatting, we have but one concern. We can't quite see what is meant by Clause 2, Subclause D:"
To ensure that any sentient life-forms farmed for this purpose are kept, and the materials collected from them, humanely;
"Is a distinction being made between sentience and sapience here? If so, we would like to see it explained. If not, it seems alarmingly unethical to 'farm' sapient beings, and we would be forced to oppose."
As for the formatting, the capital letter followed by a slash denoting the sub-clauses is rather jarring to me. I've always been partial to a lowercase letter followed by a closed parentheses. This is fully my opinion though, feel free to ignore it.
"The term 'sapient', as used in existing GA legislation, means intelligent enough to count as people... but 'sentient' has a wider scope, covering all life-forms with reasonably developed nervous systems: All sapient beings are sentient [presumably], but not all sentient beings are sapient." (OOC: In terms of RL organisms, 'sentient' would apply to -- at least -- all mammals & birds, probably the other types of vertebrates, and cephalopods.)
I see your point, and might make changes there, but the use of a slash rather than a closing parenthesis is to help differentiate the labelling for sub-clauses more clearly from the labelling for full clauses (where, as you can see, the parenthesis is used.)
Christian Democrats wrote:What is a traditional medicine?
“Do I really need to define that term? I had thought that it would be obvious enough from context.” *<sighs>*
Defining ‘Traditional Medicines’, for the purpose of this resolution, as meaning medications whose use originated due to popular belief in their effectiveness rather than as inventions of the pharmaceutical industry, and that therefore cannot be patented in nations where patents are subject to a ‘prior use’ limitation,
Imperium Anglorum wrote:Aww yea. I'd call it the Making Your Traditional Healers Pure Act, the MYTH Pure Act.
"Thank you. Hr'rmmm..."
Arotania wrote:This generally looks reasonable to us.
Might it be possible to add another subclause under 2) that encourages reasearch for identification of the active ingredient(s) contained in natural substances and possibly research into synthesis of the active ingredients identified in this process?
Medicine from traditional, 'natural' sources for which the active ingredients are not known often has the problem that the content of said active ingredients in the medicinal substances is hard to control and can lead to adverse side-effects. Known active ingredients on the other hand can be purified and quantified (and ideally even sourced from purely chemical or microbial sources, further protecting its original biological source) and therefore patient safety can be improve immensely.
“Good point, that. A verrry good point, in fact. I’ll not only add a clause along those lines but also add ‘predictability of dosage’ to the list of factors for hwhich traditional medicines must be tested.”
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:26 am
by Rafterland
"I'm really up for it, Arr'-torrios. Count me in !" exclaims André Vandeputte, a scrawny middle-aged man with thin round glasses and a graying goatee who serves as Director of what amounts to Rafterland's foreign affairs.
"I don't believe we have anything specific on homeopathy yet, right ? Maybe we should tackle that too.", he proposes confidently.
Whovian Tardisia wrote:"Aside from the formatting, we have but one concern. We can't quite see what is meant by Clause 2, Subclause D:"
"Is a distinction being made between sentience and sapience here? If so, we would like to see it explained. If not, it seems alarmingly unethical to 'farm' sapient beings, and we would be forced to oppose."
"The term 'sapient', as used in existing GA legislation, means intelligent enough to count as people... but 'sentient' has a wider scope, covering all life-forms with reasonably developed nervous systems: All sapient beings are sentient [presumably], but not all sentient beings are sapient." (OOC: In terms of RL organisms, 'sentient' would apply to -- at least -- all mammals & birds, probably the other types of vertebrates, and cephalopods.)
"Of course. Thank you for the distinction. We've always been a little fuzzy on that."
"Agreed entirely. Ease of access and environmental protection to boot!"
Ambassador Pink's eyes seemed to glimmer when he realized the Ambassador who had made this suggestion was one he did not recognize, and he quickly jotted down the nation they represented.
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 4:29 pm
by Alpha Cassiopeiae
"An excellent idea. Full support."
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:22 am
by Kenmoria
"Why are the ends of the main clauses underscores, and not colons? It seems a rather unusual style choice."
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:44 pm
by Xmara
"About time someone drafted this proposal. Full support."
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 2:06 pm
by Rafterland
OOC: I have just thought about something. Wouldn't a ban on marketing proven untested placebo (defined in a more complete resolution, I hope you see the concept) as medicine be wholly sufficient and broader for a similar intent ?
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 7:33 am
by Bears Armed Mission
"A second draft is now available."
Rafterland wrote:"I'm really up for it, Arr'-torrios. Count me in !" exclaims André Vandeputte, a scrawny middle-aged man with thin round glasses and a graying goatee who serves as Director of what amounts to Rafterland's foreign affairs.
"I don't believe we have anything specific on homeopathy yet, right ? Maybe we should tackle that too.", he proposes confidently.
"Thank you for your support. "Hr'rmm, expanding this proposal to cover other traditional medical treatments, as well as actual medications, might be worthwhile."
Alpha Cassiopeiae wrote:"An excellent idea. Full support."
Xmara wrote:"About time someone drafted this proposal. Full support."
"Thank you for your support."
Kenmoria wrote:"Why are the ends of the main clauses underscores, and not colons? It seems a rather unusual style choice."
“It seemed to urrs that those so weren't so much “ends” as they were the lead-ins for the following lists of sub-clauses, so a dash leading towards those lists seemed more appropriate than a symbol that would “close” the lines involved. In the second draft we have tried simply letting the sentences continue into the first sub-clauses (past their own alphabetical designations). Would you prefer ellipses, instead?”
Kenmoria wrote:"Why are the ends of the main clauses underscores, and not colons? It seems a rather unusual style choice."
“It seemed to urrs that those so weren't so much “ends” as they were the lead-ins for the following lists of sub-clauses, so a dash leading towards those lists seemed more appropriate than a symbol that would “close” the lines involved. In the second draft we have tried simply letting the sentences continue into the first sub-clauses (past their own alphabetical designations). Would you prefer ellipses, instead?”
"Ellipsis would certainly be more standard with WA convention. In any case, this proposal has this delegation's full support."
Bears Armed Mission wrote:“It seemed to urrs that those so weren't so much “ends” as they were the lead-ins for the following lists of sub-clauses, so a dash leading towards those lists seemed more appropriate than a symbol that would “close” the lines involved. In the second draft we have tried simply letting the sentences continue into the first sub-clauses (past their own alphabetical designations). Would you prefer ellipses, instead?”
"Ellipsis would certainly be more standard with WA convention. In any case, this proposal has this delegation's full support."
"Ellipses it is, then."
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 10:51 am
by Merni
"Surely Clause 4b could replace WASP with the agency you have just created? In any case, I humbly request that you include an abbreviation for that agency."
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:15 pm
by Stoskavanya
Just a couple questions so we can have at least some real debate.
1. How would this proposal affect the use of 'Investigational Drugs', or untested medicines for the treatment of serious and life-threatening illnesses for which there are no satisfactory alternative treatments?
2. It seems unlikely that reasonable nations would knowingly manufacture and distribute untested substances to their population in the first place. With my limited knowledge of the subject, traditional remedies in undeveloped countries tend to be used not because there has been no testing confirming their effectiveness, but because
a. Lack of trust and/or communication with government and official sources, b. Lack of access to standard medicines and, c. Lack of proliferation of a medicine's effectiveness.
While your proposal provides a solution to problem C, I would think that it doesn't comprehensibly addresses the problem of the usage of potentially dangerous traditional medicines due to lack of understanding. I would recommend adding some sort of awareness or local community outreach program to better facilitate trust and better medical knowledge to native populations.
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 10:43 am
by Desmosthenes and Burke
Stoskavanya wrote:Just a couple questions so we can have at least some real debate. 2. It seems unlikely that reasonable nations would knowingly manufacture and distribute untested substances to their population in the first place. In reality, traditional remedies in undeveloped countries tend to be used not because there has been no testing confirming their effectiveness, but because
OOC: You have clearly never dealt with the Chinese or the likes Gwenyth Paltrow, and correspondingly underestimate the inertia of cultural practice and/or propoganda value to certain types of states (especially unde(r)developed states where unscrupulous rulers like to blame outside influences for their problems).
The use of traditional medicine is prevalent enough that the West China Hospital and its Sichuan University Medical Center (ranked 2 and 3 respectively amongst hospitals in China) are the only medical facilities in the entire country to be considered an Evidence Based medical facility. I still have to explicitly state I do not want to receive traditional Chinese treatment. The Chinese government has standardized TCM production and practice, but it remains mostly untested, and usually shown as useless and/or dangerous when it is (seriously, the doctors still apply herbal poultices and practice cupping and moxibustion as treatments).
BA: I have some thoughts on defining traditional medicines/practices, but it is 2am, so later.
IC:
"The honorable Chairbear has put forth a most interesting draft. We have requested a briefing from our own domestic institutions on what "traditional medicine" entails, and will comment further when we can review the resultant memo."
Stoskavanya wrote:Just a couple questions so we can have at least some real debate. 2. It seems unlikely that reasonable nations would knowingly manufacture and distribute untested substances to their population in the first place. In reality, traditional remedies in undeveloped countries tend to be used not because there has been no testing confirming their effectiveness, but because
OOC: You have clearly never dealt with the Chinese or the likes Gwenyth Paltrow, and correspondingly underestimate the inertia of cultural practice and/or propoganda value to certain types of states (especially unde(r)developed states where unscrupulous rulers like to blame outside influences for their problems).
Interesting. I'm sure this proposal will be a great help in that regard.
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 3:08 am
by Kenmoria
"You have a random square bracket next to “Description” before the actual proposal text, the category has also been left blank."
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:43 am