Ethical Norms Blog

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Ethical Norm Blog
Most important ethical Norms
In human medical research, the ethical norm that ensures the risk of injury or suffering should be equivalent to the benefits to be acquired is the most important because it identifies the inherent value of human dignity (Ashley and O’Rourke 251). In addition, it ascertains the respect of participants of the research. Similarly, it ensures that the medical research pays close attention to self-worth of the individual. The researcher must focus on the different kinds of harm such as emotional and physical injury. The main emphasis on elimination of harm should be geared towards avoidance of death, disability, and pain. For this reason, the researcher should consider whether the harm would be greater than the benefits of the study (Ashley and O’Rourke 251).
In this regard, an essential process for respecting the dignity of participants in medical research is the obligation to protect them from any injury or harm. The commitment demonstrates the requirement that research participation must be free from causing impairment or imposing suffering or pain (Ashley and O’Rourke 251). More importantly, the investigator must try to prepare, predict, and identify any probable side effects linked to the study. The study participant should be able to know the foreseeable dangers and possible benefits. Furthermore, this norm entails guarantee to transparency and accountability in the principled conduct of the study (Ashley and O’Rourke 251).

Least important ethical norms
Out of the proposed norms, the least important norm is that after protocol’s research provides convincing evidence of a device or drugs’ healing efficacy, the study should be put on hold and the device or drug must be provided as therapy (Ashley and O’Rourke 252). Significantly, this is least significant because the study has established the beneficial effects of the intervention hence it does not infringe the autonomy or rights of the individual. Moreover, the norm does not disregard the fundamental principles of integrity and totality.

Work cited
Ashley, Benedict M., and Kevin D. O’Rourke. Ethics of health care: An introductory textbook. Georgetown University Press, 2002. Print.