**7. Conclusion**

*Bioethics in Medicine and Society*

routine.

**6.3 Post analytical phase**

execute point-of-care testing (POCT).

suitable policy on examination and records of such specimens where specimen integrity or identification is being compromised. All laboratories should maintain proper authorization as required by their country or region. Only qualified, properly skilled and regularly re-accredited employees should be authorized to

c.**Justice**: There should be no discrimination in the examination of patient's samples on the basis of gender, age or race; otherwise it would be an injustice. All samples should be treated likewise. It is recognized, that laboratories must develop some appropriate provision for STAT or priority testing. Laboratories should also state which tests are included and their expected turnaround times. It is anticipated that all specimens are being analyzed correctly in a timely

This phase includes reporting and interpretation of tests results, storage of residual sample, and access to the data. All laboratories should have a procedure for storage of a specimen that is analyte dependent. An essential part of good laboratory practice is to archive the results either in electronic and/or hard copy format. Documents that can be archived include request forms, raw analytical as well as quality control data, results, and reports. Guidelines on retention or destruction of medical records along with remaining sample retention and its dispose of should be kept in place. Policy manual should also mention the strategies on the identification of authorized personnel such as doctors, patients, and laboratory staff; that would be allowed to access medical records. Besides this, the patient should have the right to give consent to access by others (such as family members), if required. Applying

a.**Respect for persons:** Patients reasonably expect that their specimens will not be used beyond the testing prescribed by a clinician and solely used for only prescribed testing for medical purposes. However, in the world substantial differences are there concerning the confidentiality of results. In many areas, the patient and referring clinician are the only authentic recipients of laboratory data. Exceptions are there in case if patients are not able to receive or understand the tests reports. In other areas, the patient's family is also considered to be genuine recipients of a patient's test reports. Laboratories must develop a strategy for results dissemination so as to respect local customs. Reliable communication methods are to be used, and security should be protected in conveying the results regardless of the channel of communications including, hand deliveries by messengers. The local ethics committee or board should also have provision on any further testing in residual specimen (except for the samples used in validation processes), and patient consent may be obligatory.

b.**Beneficence:** Results misinterpretation may harm the patients and it could be reduced only when a skilled staff would interpret the reports; to minimize this harm. The reporting should be in proper time with correct and all necessary information so that clinician gets the true interpretation. Furthermore, a complete report usually covers the name of the test executed, a suitable reference interval (which might be age or gender specific), units of measurement if needed, and a remarking that the result is within or outside the reference interval. As per laboratory conditions, turnaround time (TAT) should be minimum for any test but it should not compromise the legitimacy of the

the basic ethical principles in post analytical phase as follows:

**112**

Finally, it has been observed that it is necessary to incorporate the core principles and guidelines of bioethics in the areas of laboratory medicine. Any laboratory involving human participants should follow international standards and practices of ethics. Laboratories shall not engage in practices restricted by law and should uphold the reputation of their profession. It is required to develop an ethics policy and add it to the laboratory's quality assurance manual. Development and implementation of an ethics training program for laboratory staff should be done in such a way that it would promote the development of the professional life of laboratory staff, highlighting human values and responsibility, honesty in their work. This will surely initiates and encourages the change of paradigm with the aim of increasing knowledge keeping in mind ethical principles in daily procedures.
