Why are research ethics essential? (Select all that apply.) a. ...

[moongchi]

Why are research ethics essential? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Research subjects must be protected from accidental disclosure of information.
  b. Institutional review boards exist to protect patient rights.
  c. Researcher misconduct may result in dissemination of potentially harmful results.
  d. Results published in professional journals represent a clear violation of privacy.
  e. Research subjects must be protected from deliberate violation of their rights.

Question 2

A nurse plans to interview prisoners as part of her master's thesis on treatment of health problems in correctional institutions. What special measures must she take before she studies these potential subjects? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Justify to an institutional review board why she must use prisoners as subjects.
  b. Devise a consent process that provides for a conservator's signature.
  c. Destroy all of her records.
  d. Devise interview questions that avoid any mention of prisons or prisoners.
  e. Bracket her previous beliefs about prisoners.
  f. Assure that the consent process involves no coercion.

[lcapri7]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, C, E
Ethical research is essential to generate sound knowledge for practice. The ethical conduct of research has been a focus since the 1940s because of the mistreatment of human subjects in selected studies. Human rights are claims and demands that have been justified in the eyes of an individual or by the consensus of a group of individuals. Having rights is necessary for the self-respect, dignity, and health of an individual. The human rights that require protection in research are (1) self-determination, (2) privacy, (3) anonymity and confidentiality, (4) fair treatment, and (5) protection from discomfort and harm. Although institutional review boards exist to protect patient rights, this is not a reason that research ethics are essential. Results published in professional journals do not represent a violation of privacy if the researcher has attended to ethical mandates.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, F
The U.S. DHHS has identified certain vulnerable groups of individuals, including pregnant women, human fetuses, neonates, children, mentally incompetent persons, and prisoners, who require additional protection in the conduct of research. Researchers need to justify their use of subjects with diminished autonomy in a study, and the need for justification increases as the subjects' risk and vulnerability. Subjects with diminished autonomy may be subject to coercion.