Ethical Codes & Research Standards

Nazi Human Experimentation

The heinous human experimentation performed by Nazi doctors in concentration camps during the German Regime, aimed at protecting military personnel and breeding a superior race.

Twin Experiment

Josef Mengele's human experiments on twins in Auschwitz, aimed at understanding their unique genetic similarities.

Extensive Nazi Experimentation

Nazi experiments on subnormal body temperature, hypothermia, and high altitude endurance to study the limits of human endurance and existence.

Tuberculosis Medical Experiment

Medical experiments conducted on tuberculosis patients in concentration camps.

Radiation Exposure Experimentation

Sterilization experiments conducted at Auschwitz and other camps to develop a method of sterilizing millions of people.

Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis

A non-therapeutic experiment conducted on African American men to determine the natural course of untreated syphilis.

Tuskegee Study Bioethics Violations

Violations of ethical principles including respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, justice, and informed consent in the Tuskegee Study.

Proper Data Management

Lack of accurate record-keeping in the Tuskegee Study, leading to unknown numbers of deaths and survivors.

US STD Experiments in Guatemala

Unethical research experiments conducted by the US government on Guatemalan people, intentionally infecting them with sexually transmitted diseases.

Nuremberg Code

A set of ethical principles developed in response to Nazi human experimentation, emphasizing voluntary consent, greater good of society, and protection of human subjects.

Declaration of Helsinki

Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, emphasizing respect for individual autonomy, subject welfare, and informed consent.

Belmont Report

Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human research, including respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC)

Established to govern the ethical conduct of research and protect human research subjects.

National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research

A policy-making body tasked with rectifying scandals and improving the protection of human participants in research.

Independent Review

The guarantee that someone other than the investigator will assess the risks of proposed research to ensure that they are reasonable in relation to potential benefits.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A board responsible for conducting independent reviews of research proposals to evaluate risks and potential benefits.

Voluntary Informed Consent

The requirement that participants in research give their consent after being fully informed about the study and its potential risks and benefits.

Vulnerable Individuals

Certain groups, such as children, institutionalized persons, women, and women with small children, who require additional protection in research due to their circumstances.

Compensation for Harms

The principle that participants who are harmed as a direct result of research should be cared for and compensated.

Comprehensive Oversight System

A system that uniformly protects the rights and welfare of research participants while allowing responsible research to proceed without undue delay.

Education and Certification

The promotion of education, certification, and accreditation systems for researchers, IRB members and staff, and institutions to fulfill their ethical responsibilities.

Scope of Oversight

Clear identification of the types of research subject to review and the types of participants to whom protections should apply.

Level of Review Corresponding to Risk

Intensified research review and monitoring as the risk and complexity of the research increase, with an emphasis on protecting participants.

Adequate Funding for Oversight System

Sufficient funding at all levels to ensure that research demonstrates respect and concern for the interests of participants.

Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB)

The national policy-making body in health research ethics in the Philippines, responsible for ensuring adherence to ethical principles and promoting the dignity of research participants.

Research Ethics Committee (REC)

A body that independently reviews, approves, and implements research protocols to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of human participants.

PHREB Accreditation

A requirement for all RECs in the Philippines to ensure quality ethical review of health and health-related research.

Coverage of PHREB Accreditation

Includes academic institution RECs, hospital RECs, government RECs, cluster RECs, and research site RECs.

Health Research

Research that seeks to understand the impact of processes, policies, actions, or events on the well-being of individuals and communities, with the goal of achieving health equity and better health for all.

Health-Related Research

Research outside the scope of health research but with potential impacts on the well-being of participants and the community.

Research Ethics Monitoring Boards (REMBs)

Regional boards responsible for conducting accreditation of levels 1 and 2 for RECs in their respective regions.