title: A summary of important documents in the field of research ethics.
abstract: Today's researchers are obligated to conduct their studies ethically. However, it often seems a daunting task to become familiar with the important ethical codes required to do so. The purpose of this article is to examine the content of those ethical documents most relevant to the biomedical researcher. Documents examined include the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, Henry Beecher's landmark paper, the Belmont Report, the U.S. Common Rule, the Guideline for Good Clinical Practice, and the National Bioethics Advisory Commission's report on research protections for the mentally ill.
authors.affiliation: Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, P.O. Box 21247, Baltimore, MD, 21228, USA. bfisc001@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001675:Bioethics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003657:Decision Making; D014943:Global Health; D006381:Helsinki Declaration; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States