Related Experiment Videos
Informed consent in medical research.
John Grimley Evans1, Peter Beck
1Department of Clinical Geratology, Radcliffe Infirmary, University of Oxford. john.grimleyevans@geratology.oxford.ac.uk
Clinical Medicine (London, England)
|July 11, 2002
Summary
Informed consent in medical research is a recent ethical principle, gaining traction only in the 1970s. Historically, it evolved from malpractice suits and ethical considerations, despite early recognition.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Research Ethics
- History of Medicine
Background:
- The principle of free and informed consent for medical research participants is a modern ethical standard.
- Historically, informed consent was primarily an issue in clinical malpractice litigation, not research ethics.
- Early European contexts saw discussions on informed consent in research prior to its widespread adoption.
Observation:
- The Nuremberg trials in 1945 were pivotal in highlighting the importance of consent in research ethics.
- Despite the Nuremberg Code, widespread ethical recognition of informed consent in research lagged until the early 1970s.
- Skepticism regarding the feasibility of obtaining truly informed consent contributed to the delay.
Findings:
- Medical paternalism and Cold War military research influenced the slow adoption of informed consent as an ethical mandate.
- The Nuremberg judgment was a significant, though not immediately decisive, event in the evolution of research ethics.
- The practical challenges and ethical debates surrounding informed consent shaped its integration into research protocols.
Implications:
- Understanding the historical trajectory of informed consent is crucial for contemporary research ethics.
- The evolution of informed consent underscores the dynamic nature of ethical principles in scientific research.
- Recognizing past barriers informs current practices and strengthens protections for research participants.