Which document outlines ethical principles for research involving human subjects?

The Belmont Report is a foundational document in the field of research ethics that specifically outlines ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects. Published in 1979, it identifies three core principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

• The principle of respect for persons emphasizes the necessity of obtaining informed consent from participants, recognizing their autonomy and the importance of voluntary participation.

• Beneficence refers to the obligation of researchers to minimize potential harm while maximizing benefits to the participants.

• The principle of justice ensures that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed fairly among all groups in society.

These principles serve as the groundwork for the formulation of regulations and guidelines that govern the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects in various settings, including clinical trials and other scientific investigations.

In contrast to the Belmont Report, other documents mentioned may address important ethical aspects but do not provide a comprehensive framework specifically focused on the principles outlined for research involving human subjects. For example, the Declaration of Helsinki focuses on the ethical principles of medical research and is oriented more towards clinical trials, while the Nuremberg Code emerged from the aftermath of World War II, emphasizing the necessity of consent and humane treatment of research subjects, but lacks the broader application seen in the Belmont Report.