Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects

Abstract

Adopted by the 18th WMA General Assembly Helsinki, Finland, June 1964 and amended by the 29th WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 1975; 35th WMA General Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983; 41st WMA General Assembly, Hong Kong, September 1989; 48th WMA General Assembly, Somerset West, Republic of South Africa, October 1996 and the 52 nd WMA General Assembly, Edinburgh, Scotland, October 2000 Introduction The World Medical Association has developed the Declaration of Helsinki as a statement of ethical principles to provide guidance to physicians and other participants in medical research involving human subjects. Medical research involving human subjects includes research on identifiable human material or identifiable data. It is the duty of the physician to promote and safeguard the health of the people. The physician's knowledge and conscience are dedicated to the fulfillment of this duty. The Declaration of Geneva of the World Medical Association binds the physician with the words, “The health of my patient will be my first consideration, ” and the International Code of Medical Ethics declares that, “A physician shall act only in the patient's interest when providing medical care which might have the effect of weakening the physical and mental condition of the patient.” Medical progress is based on research which ultimately must rest in part on experimentation involving human subjects. In medical research on human subjects, considerations related to the well-being of the human subject should take precedence over the interests of science and society. […]