Ethics in Medical Research: A Handbook of Good Practice

This is a comprehensive, practical guide to the ethical issues raised by different kinds of medical research, and is the first such book to be written with the needs of the researcher in mind. Clearly structured and written in a plain, accessible style, this book covers every significant ethical issue likely to be faced by researchers and research ethics committees. The author outlines and clarifies official guidelines, gives practical advice on how to adhere to them, and suggests procedures in areas where official recommendations are vague or absent. This invaluable handbook will help researchers identify and address ethical issues at an early stage in the design of their studies, helping them to avoid unnecessary delay, and to safeguard the well-being of patients and healthy volunteers. The book will also be extremely useful to members of research ethics committees.