Bill would use Costa Rican police as guinea pigs for biomedical research

July 1^st, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Police officers could be used as guinea pigs for biomedical research under a bill that could pass the Legislature soon.

Xiomara Rojas, general secretary of the Independent Union of State Workers (SITECO), filed a complaint against the bill – known as the Regulatory Bill on Biomedical Research – which was approved by the Committee on Social Affairs and is ready to be adopted by lawmakers.

The bill “contains an article that is clearly illegal, contrary to international standards and the rights of the human person.  This is article 64, which creates a group of people called ‘subordinate,’ on whom biomedical research can be conducted, among which includes the police.  This standard does not exist in any country in the world, precisely because it is absolutely illegal, contrary to international conventions on the subject and is a violation of the human rights of the police in our country,” Rojas said.

“[The union] flatly opposes that police officers be handled as guinea pigs for any biomedical research.  Once again the police are considered second-class citizens,” union leaders said.

The union said it demands that the Minister of Public Safety defend the police and prevent them from being forced to participate in such research.