The Significance of the Belmont Report to the Nursing Research
The Belmont Report is a significant work of literature on clinical research ethics. Belmont works to protect both study participants and patients who are undergoing clinical trials (Miracle, 2016). It is crucial to create an ethical framework for nursing research and ensure that subjects’ rights are always protected (Department of Health, 2014). The three cornerstones of the Belmont Report are respect for people, goodness, and justice.
Respect for others is treating them courteously while respecting their autonomy. Informed consent from subjects is essential before employing them in clinical research (Miracle, 2016). The chance for people to exercise their freedom and make judgments or choices must be provided. On the other hand, the researcher should conduct their research honestly and truthfully.
The idea of beneficence is connected to the phrase do not harm. A research ethics principle supports the necessity for the researcher to ensure that the welfare of the participants is taken into account. Clinical trials should always prioritize safeguarding human subjects (Sims, 2010). As a result, this goal is achieved by minimizing participant risk and maximizing the benefits of the study or clinical trial.
Justice in decision-making, particularly when selecting study participants, is called justice in research. Justice ensures that every study methodology is logical, moral, and well-thought-out. The idea also relates to the fair distribution of benefits and risks among prospective clinical trial participants (Miracle, 2016). It provides the criteria to be applied in deciding who should participate in a study to prevent any form of injustice.