What is a key ethical principle underpinning human subjects research?

The key ethical principle underpinning human subjects research is rooted in the concepts of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. These principles are foundational to ethical research practices and provide a framework to ensure the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants are safeguarded.

Respect for persons acknowledges the autonomy of individuals and requires obtaining informed consent from participants. It emphasizes the importance of treating individuals as capable of making their own decisions regarding participation in research while also acknowledging those with diminished autonomy who may require additional protections.

Beneficence involves the obligation to minimize potential harm while maximizing potential benefits to participants. This principle requires researchers to carefully assess the risks and benefits associated with their studies, striving to promote the wellbeing of participants.

Justice refers to the equitable distribution of the burdens and benefits of research. It mandates that researchers act fairly in the selection of subjects, ensuring that no specific group bears an unjust share of the research risks, while also ensuring that the benefits of research are distributed fairly across society.

In contrast, options focusing solely on maximizing data collection, compliance with legal regulations, or ensuring participant anonymity all reflect important aspects of research practice but do not encompass the comprehensive ethical framework required by research involving human subjects. Thus, the combination of respect for persons, beneficence,