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{{Theme
|Theme Type=Good Practices
|Has Parent Theme=Theme:B14a910a-3bc4-40ff-a0e6-eb7119f51ed9
|Title=Balancing harms and benefits
|Is About=Every research project that involves humans should balance harms and benefits.
|Important Because=When considering any research project, the potential net benefit should outweigh the potential net harm. This is in line with the universally recognized ethical principles of beneficence (doing good) and non-maleficence (not doing harm). These two principles stem from the belief that human beings have inherent dignity, which was formalized in the UN Declaration of Human Rights.<ref>UN General Assembly. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Accessed 28 May 2019. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/</ref> In biomedical research, harms will almost inevitably be experienced alongside benefits. That’s why it’s important to carefully assess how important the benefits are and under what cost. These dilemmas should always be communicated to research participants, to ensure fully informed consent.

A number of mid-20th century studies, such as the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, were conducted to examine the natural history of a disease by either deliberately exposing human subjects to damaging stimuli, or by not giving them effective treatment.<ref>Alsan M, Wanamaker M. Tuskegee and the health of black men. Q J Econ. 2018;133(1):407–455.</ref> These are some of the most prominent examples of disproportionate harm to benefit.
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|Important For=All stakeholders in research; Research subjects; Ethics committee members; Principal investigators; PhD Students; Scientists
|Has Best Practice=The Belmont report, <ref>National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Accessed 28 May 2019. Available at: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/index.html</ref>  the Declaration of Helsinki <ref>World Medical Association. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. JAMA. 2013;310(20):2191–2194.</ref> and similar ethical and legal documents were enacted by governing bodies and professional associations.
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|Related To Theme=Theme:D44fd22a-ed5d-4120-a78b-8881747131fd
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{{Tags
|Has Virtue And Value=Respect; Honesty
|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Informed consent; Balancing harms and benefits
|Related To Research Area=LS - Life Sciences; SH - Social Sciences and Humanities
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