Ethical Considerations in Evaluation, Case Study Example

The Belmont report was created after a conference held at the Smithsonian Institute in 1976. The report examined basic ethical considerations and provided guidelines for research that involved human subjects. This followed on from the implementation of the National Research Act (1974) and the creation of the commission for the protection of human subjects in Biomedical and behavioural research. (National Institutes of Health, 1979). [1]

The basic ethical areas covered three main topics:

1. Respect for Persons – The objective that humans are treated autonomously and as such entitled to protection. Hence consideration of people’s choices and options and their ability to make free and informed decisions. Specific reference to those who are mentally ill or retarded and as such may have diminished capacity of choice. The report also considers the role of prisoners and whilst they may volunteer they must not be coerced. Internet research is considered an aspect of benign research i.e. the virtual world not touching the physical world. (Mark S. Frankel, 1999)[2]
2. Beneficence – The ethical consideration of treating people with respect and kindness. The medical concept of ‘do no harm’ equally applies to research. This is particularly pointed at research conducted on Children. It was David Hume who stated “virtue ethics make motives of benevolence all important in the moral life” (Stanford Encyclopedia, 2008)[3]
3. Justice – The concept of treating people with equity and the fair distribution of benefits. The concept of forced research on victims e.g. the Nazi concentration camps is cited as a fragrant breach of international law. Other areas covered race, ethnicity and manipulation of poor people. “Anonymity and confidentiality are the inherent of all participants. The right whether to remain anonymous or to be identified lies with the participant. It becomes all the more important in research projects dealing with stigmatised, sensitive or personal issues and information.” (Ethical Guidelines For, 2010).[4]

Works Cited

Ethical Guidelines For. (2010). Retrieved 2 7, 2011, from Harvard.edu: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bioethics/guidelines/ethical4.html

Mark S. Frankel, P. a. (1999). Ethical and Legal Aspects of Human Subjects Research on the Internet. Washington DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science.

National Institutes of Health. (1979, 4 18). Regulations and Ethical Guidelines. Retrieved 2 7, 2011, from National Institutes of Health: http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/guidelines/belmont.html

Stanford Encyclopedia. (2008, 1 23). The Principle of Beneficence in Applied Ethics. Retrieved 2 7, 2011, from Stanford Encyclopedia: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/principle-beneficence/

[1] National Institutes of Health. (1979, 4 18). Regulations and Ethical Guidelines. Retrieved 2 7, 2011, from National Institutes of Health: http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/guidelines/belmont.html

[2] ark S. Frankel, P. a. (1999). ETHICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. Washington DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science.

[3] Stanford Encyclopaedia. (2008, 1 23). The Principle of Beneficence in Applied Ethics. Retrieved 2 7, 2011, from Stanford Encyclopaedia: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/principle-beneficence/

[4] National Institutes of Health. (1979, 4 18). Regulations and Ethical Guidelines. Retrieved 2 7, 2011, from National Institutes of Health: http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/guidelines/belmont.html