Ethics in Medical Research in Humans: A Historical Perspective

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts discussed in the lecture notes regarding the history of ethics in medical research.

Inductive Reasoning

The basis of modern science, where knowledge arises from experience through observation, replication, and cautious inference.

Primum non nocere

A principle traditionally attributed to Hippocrates, meaning first, do no harm, which should guide medical experiments.

Berlin Code of Ethics

Established in 1900 in the Kingdom of Prussia, a series of ethical rules regarding human experiments to test new treatments.

Nüremberg Code

Drafted in 1947 after World War II, ethical principles and guidelines to protect human subjects of experiments, emphasizing voluntary informed consent.

Declaration of Helsinki

International guidelines of reference for biomedical research, incorporating the spirit of the Nüremberg Code and refining it; emphasizes respect for the individual and informed consent.

Bioethics

Systematic study of human conduct in the area of the life sciences and health care, examined in light of moral values and principles.

Belmont Report

A statement specifying ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research, emphasizing respect, beneficence, and justice.

CIOMS Guides

International guidelines for biomedical research in humans, developed to apply the principles of the Nüremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the Belmont Report in developing countries.

Gesetz zur Verhütung Erbkranken Nachwuchses

The sterilization act of 1933 enacted in Nazi Germany to prevent the transmission of hereditary diseases.

Erbgesundheitsgesetz

A tribunal consisting of 2 physicians and a judge that could order forced sterilization of individuals diagnosed with congenital mental retardation, schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, hereditary epilepsy, hereditary chorea, congenital blindness or deafness, marked deformities of a hereditary nature, severe chronic alcoholism, and many other conditions in Nazi Germany.

Tuskegee Syphilis Study

A study (1932-1972) in which black men with syphilis were left untreated to observe the natural history of the disease, leading to significant ethical concerns and changes in patient protection in clinical trials.