Examine the protection of human subjects in research from early research studies, through the development of research codes to current research standards.

Early research studies focused heavily on the advancement of science without much regard for the safety and protection of human subjects. Little attention was given to any ethical considerations and it wasn’t until the Nuremberg Code in 1947 that guidelines were set to protect human beings participating in research experiments. This code established 10 principles which covered informed consent, voluntary participation, avoidance of physical or mental harm, and respect for the individual.

In 1964, the World Medical Association adopted a revised version of this code called The Declaration of Helsinki which included more specific requirements such as evaluating risks versus benefits and providing medical treatment if necessary. Since then, many countries have developed their own codes of conduct for biomedical research involving humans including The Belmont Report (1979) in the United States and The European Convention on Human Rights (1950).

These standards continue to evolve over time with more focus being placed on patient privacy as well as minimizing potential risk factors from participating in clinical trials such as psychological distress or bodily injury. Recent initiatives include incorporating new technologies into subject recruitment while also ensuring maximum safety measures are taken during recruitment processes and data collection methods are regularly reviewed. Ultimately, these guidelines are designed to ensure participants understand all aspects of their involvement including potential risks, benefits, confidentiality concerns and other important information prior to entering a study or experiment.