title: Beneficence as a principle in human research.
abstract: Beneficence is one of the four principles that form the basis of the Australian National Statement. The aim of this paper is to explore the philosophical development of this principle and to clarify the role that beneficence plays in contemporary discussions about human research ethics. By examining the way that guidance documents, particularly the National Statement, treats beneficence we offer guidance to researchers and human research ethics committee members on the practical application of what can be a conceptually difficult principle.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia. pieper@live.co.uk.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4838-224X
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pieper
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2250, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin J H
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D026686:Beneficence; D001675:Bioethics / Q000639:trends*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000941:ethics*; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D035842:Research Subjects
keywords: Beneficence; Ethics; HREC; Human research ethics; National Statement