Ethical Guidelines and Nuremberg Code Summary

Origins of Ethical Guidelines

• Ethics is the branch of philosophy studying values and judgments of right/wrong, good/bad.

• Framework involves weighing risks against benefits, acting responsibly, seeking justice, and respecting rights.

Nuremberg Trials (1946)

• German doctors were tried for their treatment of people in research during WW2.

• Defense arguments:

  • No international law governed human experimentation.

  • Similar research occurred elsewhere without prosecution.

The Nuremberg Code (1947)

• Arose as a result of the trials.

• Key tenets:

  • Voluntary participation with informed consent.

  • Research should benefit society and be unattainable otherwise.

  • Must be based on prior animal research.

  • Avoidance of unnecessary harm.

  • Research halted if death or disability is likely.

  • Risks should be proportional to benefits.

  • Proper protection against harm.

  • Conducted by qualified scientists.

  • Right to withdraw at any time.

  • Researcher must stop if harm is evident.

Nuremberg Code Summary

• Voluntary participation and informed consent are critical.

• Frivolous research is unethical; studies must be scientifically sound.

• Participants should not be exposed to harmful practices.

• Participants can terminate research at any point.

• Research stops if harm may result.