The Belmont Report outlines three fundamental principles that guide ethical research involving human subjects. These principles are:
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Respect for Persons: This principle emphasizes the importance of recognizing the autonomy of individuals and the necessity of obtaining informed consent. It involves acknowledging that individuals should have the freedom to make decisions about their participation in research and that vulnerable populations should be provided additional protections.
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Beneficence: This principle entails an obligation to maximize benefits and minimize potential harm to participants in research. Researchers should strive to ensure that the research design promotes the well-being of participants and that risks are minimized.
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Justice: This principle addresses the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of research. It highlights the importance of selecting research subjects equitably, ensuring that no group of people is unduly burdened or unfairly excluded from potential benefits of research.
These principles form the foundation for ethical conduct in research involving human subjects.