Protecting human research participants is of utmost importance.
It is essential that all healthcare professionals, whether or not they are currently involved in research studies, remain aware of regulatory policies and updates such as the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, or Common Rule, that will take effect January 2019
Instructions: This week, reflect on what you learned from the NIH materials about protecting the rights of human research participants.
Discuss at least three of the following in your paper:
- Describe the circumstances that influenced the need for a policy to protect human research subjects. Give examples of specific ways human research subjects can be harmed by researchers.
- Identify three vulnerable populations and the special restrictions associated with human research among these groups. Evaluate the requirements and restrictions. Do you think they are adequate? Why or why not?
- The Belmont Report summarizes the ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects. Three core principles are identified: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Even though these principles are considered equal, prioritize them in order of importance to you. Explain your decisions.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Protecting the rights of human research participants is of great importance in the healthcare industry. As a medical professor, it is essential to educate our students on the regulatory policies and updates that govern the protection of human subjects in research studies. In this paper, we will be reflecting on the three selected topics from the NIH materials regarding the protection of human subjects in research studies.
1. Describe the circumstances that influenced the need for a policy to protect human research subjects. Give examples of specific ways human research subjects can be harmed by researchers.
The need for a policy to protect human research subjects was influenced by unethical and harmful practices that took place in the past. In the past, there was no legal framework for the protection of human subjects in research. For example, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study conducted between 1932 to 1972 involved unethical practices where research subjects were not provided with adequate information about the risks associated with the study. As a result, the participants were exposed to severe harm, including death.
Specific ways that human research subjects can be harmed by researchers include physical harm, psychological harm, and privacy violations. Physical harm can occur when participants are not provided with enough information about the risks that are associated with the study. Psychological harm, on the other hand, can occur when participants are put under undue stress or exposed to traumatizing situations. Privacy violations occur when researchers disclose participants’ personal information without their consent, which may lead to identity theft or social stigma.
2. Identify three vulnerable populations and the special restrictions associated with human research among these groups. Evaluate the requirements and restrictions. Do you think they are adequate? Why or why not?
The three vulnerable populations in human research include children, pregnant women, and prisoners. There are special restrictions that govern human research among these groups. For example, in the case of children, researchers must obtain parental consent in addition to the child’s assent. Pregnant women must be carefully monitored to prevent fetal harm. In the case of prisoners, researchers must obtain permission from the prison authorities and must ensure that the research does not affect the prisoners’ eligibility for parole.
I think that the requirements and restrictions associated with human research among these groups are adequate. However, there is always room for improvement, and we should continue to look for ways to provide better protection for these groups.
3. The Belmont Report summarizes the ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects. Three core principles are identified: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Even though these principles are considered equal, prioritize them in order of importance to you. Explain your decisions.
The three principles of the Belmont Report, respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, are all equally important. However, if I had to prioritize them, I would prioritize beneficence first, followed by respect for persons and then justice. I prioritize beneficence because it focuses on protecting research subjects from harm and maximizing their benefits. Respect for persons is also important because it emphasizes the need for informed consent, autonomy, and dignity. Justice is also essential because it focuses on ensuring that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed fairly.
Conclusion:
Overall, protecting human research subjects is crucial, and healthcare professionals must remain aware of regulatory policies and updates that govern the protection of human subjects in research. We must prioritize ethical principles and guidelines and work towards providing better protection for vulnerable populations in research.
