The Belmont Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Belmont Report - Essay Example It also offered guidelines for the ethical treatment of subjects, accurate risk appraisal, guidelines for the selection of subjects, and the definition of informed consent. The Belmont report defined practice as an intervention that had a reasonable chance of enhancing the well being of the individual patient involved. Practice has as its objective the "...diagnosis, preventive treatment or therapy" of the patient involved ("The Belmont Report"). Research is the process that is designed to "...test an hypothesis, permit conclusions to be drawn, and thereby to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge" ("The Belmont Report"). Research has a predefined protocol, procedures, and end point objectives. Experimental treatments may be designated as practice if there is a basis for likelihood of improving the patient's condition. The Belmont report was based on 3 ethical considerations. First, the patient's autonomy must be respected. In cases where a patient lacks autonomy such as incapacitation, measures must be taken to protect the individual. Second, efforts must be made to secure the patients well being. The maxim of 'do no harm' must be respected and harm should not be inflicted for the sake of research. It is also recognized that research often involves risk and harm may be the ultimate result. The opportunity for benefit must be weighed against the risk.