Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Conditions of Equilibrium01:28

Conditions of Equilibrium

Equilibrium refers to a state where a rigid body is not subjected to any translational or rotational motion. This state is achieved when the force and couple acting on a rigid body equal zero. When the system of external forces results in a net effect equivalent to zero, the rigid body is considered to be in equilibrium.
Internal forces are not considered for conditions of equilibrium because they occur in equal and opposite pairs within the body, effectively canceling each other. As a result,...
Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II01:21

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II

A rigid body is in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system are equal to zero.
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?
Alternative Sets of Equilibrium Equations01:31

Alternative Sets of Equilibrium Equations

When analyzing the behavior of structures, engineers often rely on the concept of equilibrium. This refers to the state where all forces and moments acting on a system balance each other, resulting in no net movement or rotation. In many cases, equilibrium can be described by a set of standard equations. However, in some situations, alternative sets of equilibrium equations must be used to describe the system's behavior accurately.
One example of such a situation can be observed in a...
Equilibrium and Balance01:15

Equilibrium and Balance

The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
Stability of Equilibrium Configuration01:23

Stability of Equilibrium Configuration

Understanding the stability of equilibrium configurations is a fundamental part of mechanical engineering. In any system, there are three distinct types of equilibrium: stable, neutral, and unstable.
A stable equilibrium occurs when a system tends to return to its original position when given a small displacement, and the potential energy is at its minimum. An example of a stable equilibrium is when a cantilever beam is fixed at one end and a weight is attached to the other end. If the weight...
Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I00:49

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I

A rigid body is said to be in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system is equal to zero. To solve for rigid body equilibrium problems, do the following steps.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Refining the regulatory and ethics context of controlled human infection models - a stakeholder meeting report.

Biologicals : journal of the International Association of Biological Standardization·2026
Same author

Factors associated with early follow-up attendance after geriatric hip fracture surgery.

European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie·2026
Same author

Strengthening an Ethical Framework and Research Practice to Better Link Global Health Research to Health Equity : A Case Study of the SPOT-Impact Consortium.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same author

Moral Attitudes on Somatic Gene Editing for Inherited Cardiomyopathy: A Qualitative Interview Study with Key Stakeholders in the Netherlands.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same author

Planetary Health Research Ethics: Why the Concept Falls Short.

The American journal of bioethics : AJOB·2026
Same author

Available guidance for ethical challenges in learning health systems: an integrative literature review.

Health research policy and systems·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

Equipoise should be amended, not abandoned.

Rieke van der Graaf1, Johannes J M van Delden

  • 1University Medical Center Utrecht, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands. r.vandergraaf@umcutrecht.nl

Clinical Trials (London, England)
|July 13, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Equipoise, or genuine uncertainty in expert medical consensus, is crucial for clinical trials. This analysis clarifies its complexities and confirms its continued ethical importance in research.

More Related Videos

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses
12:18

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses

Published on: April 6, 2019

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance
07:19

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

Published on: March 19, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses
12:18

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses

Published on: April 6, 2019

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance
07:19

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

Published on: March 19, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Clinical research ethics
  • Medical research methodology
  • Evidence-based medicine

Background:

  • The ethical requirement for equipoise (genuine uncertainty in expert medical opinion) before initiating controlled trials, as proposed by Benjamin Freedman in 1987, has been a subject of ongoing debate.
  • The complexity of the equipoise controversy has increased significantly over the last decade.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and clarify the primary points of contention within the equipoise controversy.
  • To reconcile differing viewpoints by highlighting areas of agreement between proponents and opponents of equipoise.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the positions presented by leading authors in the equipoise debate over the past ten years.
  • Examination of the core arguments and counterarguments concerning the definition and application of equipoise in clinical research.

Main Results:

  • Substantial overlap exists between proponents and opponents of equipoise regarding key issues.
  • Equipoise is grounded in competent care and epistemological dilemmas, does not inherently prohibit placebo-controlled trials, and patient/physician equipoise are irrelevant.
  • A refined definition of equipoise is proposed: a state of genuine agnosticism or conflict in the expert medical community about the preferred medically established procedure, requiring researchers to evaluate the trial's contribution to knowledge and respect competent care standards.

Conclusions:

  • The study confirms that equipoise remains a vital ethical consideration for randomized clinical trials.
  • No definitive reasons exist to abandon the equipoise requirement in clinical research.
  • Equipoise serves as a specification of broader ethical principles like scientific validity and favorable risk-benefit ratios, adding practical substance to these guidelines.