Article
When Are Research Risks Reasonable in Relation to Anticipated Benefits?
Nature Medicine
(2004)
Abstract
The question "When are research risks reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits?" is at the heart of disputes in the ethics of clinical research. Institutional review boards are often criticized for inconsistent decision-making, a problem that is compounded by a number of contemporary controversies, including the ethics of research involving placebo controls, developing countries, incapable adults and emergency rooms. If this pressing ethical question is to be addressed in a principled way, then a systematic approach to the ethics of risk in research is required. Component analysis provides such a systematic approach.
Keywords
- Clinical Trials,
- Emergency Medical Services,
- Research Ethics,
- Internationality,
- Placebos,
- Research Subjects,
- Risk Factors,
- Therapeutic Human Experimentation
Disciplines
Publication Date
June, 2004
Citation Information
Charles Weijer and Paul B. Miller. "When Are Research Risks Reasonable in Relation to Anticipated Benefits?" Nature Medicine Vol. 10 Iss. 6 (2004) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/charlesweijer/5/
Also reprinted in: Amdur RJ, Bankert EA. Institutional Review Board Member Handbook. 2007: 133-137.
Dr. Charles Weijer is currently a faculty member at The University of Western Ontario.