Revisiting the Distinction and the Connection Between Research and Practice

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Clinical Research Ethics

Background:

• The Belmont Report provides guidance on distinguishing research from practice for ethics review.
• Understanding this distinction is vital for ethical oversight in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the fundamental significance of the practice-research distinction in clinical research ethics.
• To examine ethically significant differences between clinical practice and clinical research.
• To critique the principle of clinical equipoise.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of the distinction between clinical practice and clinical research.
• Examination of the ethical implications of these differences.
• Critique of the principle of clinical equipoise.

Main Results:

• The distinction between clinical practice and research holds fundamental ethical significance.
• Ethically significant differences exist between clinical practice and research activities.
• Clinical equipoise, a cornerstone of research ethics, faces critique.

Conclusions:

• A clear understanding of the practice-research distinction is essential for robust clinical research ethics.
• Further ethical scrutiny of principles like clinical equipoise is warranted based on these distinctions.