Ethics of research

Ethical conduct of research involving humans has gained relevance and importance over the years with expansion beyond boundaries traditional medical clinical into a multiplicity disciplines human participation. Human is regarded as conducted on or about people, their tissues cells data obtained from them. Historically, it stated that Greek Philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was probably first to discuss principles ethics ‘by studying offering criteria assess behaviour’. It believed he taught course at Lyceum during his mature which based many treatises wrote subject. Increased attention in started after Second World War following judgment International Military Tribunal also included 10 permissible experiments have since then been referred Nuremburg Code (1949). Later discussions by Medical Assembly led adoption Helsinki Declaration (1964) revised times then. The Council for Organizations Sciences (CIOMS) association Health (WHO) undertook its work biomedical late 1970s. published an updated version wider scope coverage titled ‘International Guidelines Health-Related Research Involving Humans’ (2016). Close cooperation ensured guidelines are closely aligned Declaration. Traditionally, received much both practice health research. Faculties Medicine were establish review boards committees Sri Lanka undertake proposals participation ethical aspects issues granting approval. primary aim safeguard interests right participants prevent exploitation. There no doubt value benefits brought will continue bring ensure health, wellbeing, safety quality life people. Most simple, observational, descriptive non-invasive though may be minimal, still needs explicit board before more complex where subject ‘experimentation’ ‘interventions’ need assessed recognized experience capability do so. If new drug, vaccine, medicinal product, device, equipment not already use people tested being granted approval day-to-day appropriate authority, researcher should adopt recommended procedures, regulations registration mechanism prescribed. In any interventional requires applying obtaining gazetted under National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) approved name review. registered Clinical Trials Registry. Both these submitted Evaluation Committee NMRA order evaluated prior registration. These approvals registrations requested peer reviewed high impact journals consider such manuscripts publication. certain values provides framework guiding formulation include limited respect, integrity, justice, beneficence merit. implicit badly designed, conduced, analysed reported unethical. Centre researchers Institute USA enunciated seven guide social value, scientific validity, fair selection, favourable risk benefit ratio, independent review, informed consent, respect potential enrolled subjects. Given merit integrity research, good institutions. meet Education, Training Unit Ministry taken steps publish, ‘The Conduct Lanka’ (2018) (available http://www.health.gov.lk/moh_final/english/public/elfinder/files/publications/2018/TheCodeofConduct.pdf). covers of: proposals; management materials; collaborative research; conflict interest; supervision dissemination findings, publication responsible authorship. With other sciences branches engineering, computing, bio technology, genetics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, nano technology others, reached dimension. emphasized whatever branch science discipline, if participants, committee must. Thus, behoves institutes, universities, faculties having faculties. necessary members committee, functions within set terms references, standard operating confidentiality training processes documentation. too universities gone one step ahead university level facilitate than practice. Time come when institutions take develop codes courses practices all