In India social science research in health benefited from the evolution of ethical guidelines through a national initiative during 1997–1999. These guidelines provide a concrete framework within which a study

[ 49 ] In India social science research in health benefited from the evolution of ethical guidelines through a national initiative during 1997–1999. These guidelines provide a concrete framework within which a study design can be developed, ethical issues can be thought through, and researchers can visualise real-life situations and the problems they will face—all before starting work. However, despite this process, questions that were not anticipated come up in the course of fieldwork.