Ethics in Research. Health, Medicine, Nursing Research Paper

Ethics in Research
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Ethics in Research
The use of human subjects in research is not new. For decades, research has made use of human subjects as it seeks to determine or find new ways of enhancing the experience of life. However, one group has been exploited for years, and it was not until 1976 when the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research stepped in to address the issues that this population was saved (Institute of Medicine, 2007). This population includes prisoners. Prisoners are the true definition of a captive population or a population that cannot speak for itself or share their sentiments and fears over certain research projects.
In research, there are legal and ethical considerations that all researchers are expected to abide by and avoid what is termed as research misconduct. Research misconduct mainly involves aspects like exposing subjects to harm, failing to follow approved protocol, lacking ethical review approvals, and following unacceptable research practices (Yip, Han, & Sng, 2016). While conducting research on human subjects, researchers “have a duty to protect the life, health, dignity, integrity, right to self-determination, privacy and confidentiality of personal information of research subjects” (Yip, Han, & Sng, 2016). The above spells out the legal and ethical considerations for all researchers. The Institutional Review Board or IRB, on the other hand, was instituted to help ensure that human subjects are protected from exploitation and researchers’ misconduct. Enfield and Truwit (2008) write that the history of unscientific research was the main reason why the IRB was instituted. Its work is mainly to ensure that the ethical and legal considerations of research on human subjects are adhered to.
In 2002, WHO released some of the key elements of research ethics procedures and guidelines. These elements were considered the general ethical principles while conducting research with human subjects. These principles include respect for persons, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Prisoners are already disempowered, and they are also limited in the choices they can make. However, the above does not mean they should be subjected to the most deplorable conditions while being used as human subjects in resear...