Restoring balance: a consensus statement on the protection of vulnerable research participants.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Abstract

A diverse panel convened in June 2011 to explore a dilemma in human research: some traits may make individuals or communities particularly vulnerable to a variety of harms in research; however, well-intended efforts to protect these vulnerable individuals and communities from harm may actually generate a series of new harms. We have presented a consensus statement forged by the panel through discussion during a 2-day meeting and the article-writing process. We have identified practical problems that sometimes arise in connection with providing additional safeguards for groups labeled as vulnerable and offered recommendations on how we might better balance concerns for protection with concerns for justice and participant autonomy.

Publication Title

American Journal of Public Health

Volume

102

Issue

12

First Page

2220

Last Page

2225

Comments

This article was published in American Journal of Public Health, Volume 102, Issue 12, Pages 2220-2225.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300757 .

Copyright © 2012.

This document is currently not available here.

COinS