Medical Research Ethics: What We Need to Comply When Obtaining Informed Consent from Human Subjects?

Abstract

Patient safety and well-being are very important to safeguard in medical research. A subject's life cannot be sacrificed for the benefits of future mankind, as medical ethics of autonomy dictate the respect of an individual. By reference to the Declaration of Helsinki, this article discusses the ethical principles and processes in obtaining a valid and proper informed consent from the research subjects who should freely consent and voluntarily participate in the clinical research, including the ‘contents’ of the informed consent and the ‘skills’ of obtaining informed consent.

Keywords

Helsinki Declaration human experimentation informed consent medical ethics research ethics

References

World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects [dated 2008 Oct 22]. [cited 2009 Jun 10]. Available from: http://www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.htm

World Medical Association. International Code of Medical Ethics. [dated 2006 Oct 14]. [cited 2009 Jun10]. Available from: http://www.wma.net/e/policy/c8.htm

Beecher

H.K.

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