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🤔intro to philosophy review

Declaration of Helsinki

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The Declaration of Helsinki is a set of ethical principles regarding human experimentation developed for the medical community. It serves as a guide for conducting biomedical research involving human subjects with the aim of ensuring their rights, safety, and well-being.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The Declaration of Helsinki was first adopted by the World Medical Association in 1964 and has been revised several times, with the most recent version published in 2013.
  2. It establishes guidelines for the ethical conduct of medical research involving human subjects, including principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
  3. The Declaration emphasizes the importance of obtaining informed consent from research participants and the need for independent ethical review of research protocols.
  4. It also addresses the balance between the potential benefits and risks of research, the need for scientific validity, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
  5. The Declaration of Helsinki is widely recognized as a fundamental document in the field of biomedical ethics and is referenced by many national and international research regulations and guidelines.

Review Questions

  • Explain the purpose and key principles of the Declaration of Helsinki in the context of biomedical research.
    • The Declaration of Helsinki is a set of ethical principles that guide the conduct of biomedical research involving human subjects. Its primary purpose is to ensure the protection of the rights, safety, and well-being of research participants. The key principles outlined in the Declaration include respect for persons (informed consent), beneficence (minimizing risks and maximizing benefits), and justice (fair selection of research participants). These principles serve as a framework for researchers, institutions, and ethics review committees to ensure that biomedical research is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.
  • Describe the role of informed consent and independent ethical review in the Declaration of Helsinki's approach to protecting research participants.
    • The Declaration of Helsinki emphasizes the importance of obtaining informed consent from research participants. This means that participants must be fully informed about the nature, risks, and benefits of the research, and they must voluntarily agree to participate. The Declaration also requires that research protocols be reviewed and approved by an independent ethics review committee, such as an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The role of the ethics review committee is to ensure that the research design, recruitment procedures, and informed consent process adequately protect the rights, safety, and well-being of the research participants. This dual approach of informed consent and independent ethical review is a cornerstone of the Declaration's framework for safeguarding the ethical conduct of biomedical research.
  • Analyze how the Declaration of Helsinki's principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice apply to the ethical challenges posed by the introduction of new biotechnologies in the field of biomedical research.
    • The principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki are particularly relevant in addressing the ethical challenges posed by the introduction of new biotechnologies in biomedical research. The principle of respect for persons requires that researchers obtain informed consent from research participants, even as the complexity and potential risks of new biotechnologies may make this process more challenging. The principle of beneficence calls for researchers to carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks of these new technologies, ensuring that the risks are minimized and the benefits are maximized. The principle of justice requires that the selection of research participants is fair and equitable, and that the burdens and benefits of research involving new biotechnologies are distributed fairly, especially with regard to vulnerable populations. As biomedical research continues to advance, the Declaration of Helsinki provides a valuable ethical framework for navigating the complex issues raised by emerging biotechnologies and ensuring the protection of research participants.