The Ethics of Medical Research on Humans

This book examines the three main approaches to moral decision-making. It is essential reading for all medical decision-makers.

Claire Foster (Author)

9780521645737, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 September 2001

174 pages
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.3 kg

' … a complete, easy to understand, framework for ethical review … Each approach is clearly and succinctly defined with interesting and pertinent examples … is relevant to anyone involved in the process of research on humans … it allows the reader to develop their own personal ethical position and possibly consider their own research in a completely new light.' Statistical Methods in Medical Research

One of the most difficult problems that confronts clinicians and medical professionals is how to apply ethical principles to real decisions affecting patients. In this even-handed book, Foster examines the three main approaches to moral decision-making: goal-based, duty-based and rights-based. She examines the underlying philosophical arguments behind each, their relative strengths and weaknesses, and how they can actually be applied. She also looks at the problematic boundaries where best practice ends and experimentation begins. Is it ethical to experiment with new cures on people who are probably dying anyway? And how do you assess quality of consent? This book provides a thorough, non-partisan grounding in what the ethical principles are and what informs them. It is an invaluable preparation both for a researcher being interviewed by an ethics committee and for the people sitting on the committee, and will be essential reading for all medical decision-makers.

Foreword David Weatherall
1. An introduction to the ethical issues
Part I. Goal-based Morality: Scientific Rigour in Research: 2. The foundations of goal-based thinking
3. The application of goal-based thinking: the goals of research
4. Methods of research
5. Disseminating the results of research
Part II. Duty-based Morality: Acting in the Research Subjects' Best Interests: 6. The foundations of duty-based thinking
7. The application of duty-based thinking: therapeutic research
8. Non-therapeutic research
Part III. Right-based Morality: Respecting the Autonomy of Research Subjects: 9. The foundations of right-based thinking: definition and validity
10. The application of right-based thinking: the consent procedure
11. Confidentiality
Part IV. From Principles to Practice: Introduction: Part V. Case Studies of Goal-based Issues: Introduction: 12. Goals of research
13. Methods of research
14. Dissemination of the results of research
Part VI. Case Studies of Duty-based Issues: Introduction: 15. Therapeutic research
16. Non-therapeutic research
Part VII. Case Studies of Right-based Issues: Introduction: 17. Consent
18. Confidentiality
Part VIII. A Framework for Ethical Review, Researchers, Research Ethics Committees, and Moral Responsibility: Introduction: 19. The three approaches combined
20. A framework to assist ethical review
21. Resolving conflicts between the three approaches
22. When the three approaches fail
23. Research ethics committees
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Medicine: general issues [MB], Philosophy [HP]