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Published on: November 26, 2015
Ethical considerations for nurses in clinical trials
Kathleen Oberle1, Marion Allen
1Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. oberle@ucalgary.ca
Abstract:
Ethical issues arise for nurses involved in all phases of clinical trials regardless of whether they are caregivers, research nurses, trial co-ordinators or principal investigators. Potential problem areas centre on nurses' moral obligation related to methodological issues as well as the notions of beneficence/non-maleficence and autonomy. These ethical concerns can be highly upsetting to nurses if they are not addressed, so it is imperative that they are discussed fully prior to the initiation of a trial. Failure to resolve these issues can place both the conduct and the results of research in jeopardy.
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