Protect the anonymity and confidentiality of participants. Avoid deceptive practices when designing your research. Do no harm The purpose of health research is to discover new information that may be useful to society. The purpose of research should never be to harm anyone or to find information at the expense of other people.
Research ethics is a fundamental principle of modern medical research in all disciplines. The lead body, the IRB, is intentionally comprised of experts in a variety of disciplines that may include ethicists, social workers, doctors, nurses, other scientific researchers, counselors and mental health professionals, and advocates for vulnerable people. There is also usually a legal expert on the panel, or at their disposal, to discuss any issues related to the legality or ramifications of the studies. Whether because of the person's level of development or because of various diseases or disabilities, some people require special research protections that may involve the exclusion of research activities that could cause potential harm or the appointment of an external guardian to oversee the participation of those vulnerable people.
Researchers must implement specific protections to minimize all forms of discomfort and harm in order to align with the principle of beneficence. The principle of justice also states that the questions asked in trials should be relevant to the communities participating in the study. Examples of potential risks for participants include physical harm, loss of privacy, unforeseen side effects, emotional distress or embarrassment, monetary costs, physical discomfort, and loss of time.
