The Belmont Report: The Triple Crown of Research Ethics

The Belmont Report is a critical document for those involved in research. However, the report is also applicable to clinical practice. The primary purpose of the Belmont Report is to protect the rights of all research subjects or participants. The Belmont Report also serves as an ethical framework for research. There are 3 major components: (1) respect for persons, (2) beneficence, and (3) justice. This article will review these principles and show how they can be applied to the clinical as well as the research setting and address some concerns for the 21st century.