The Ethical Dilemma of Overriding Consent for the Greater Good in Medical Research

Abstract

Instructor’s Name The Belmont Report arose after world war II due to the atrocities inflicted on human subjects and is one of the leading works of research that define ethics and correlates health care research. The Belmont principle defines three ethical principles relevant in ethics and research, including respect of persons, beneficence, and Justice. Respect of persons alludes that everyone is entitled to their opinions and choices and should enter research voluntarily. Beneficence defines an individual’s protection from harm during research. Researchers should aim at maximizing the benefits and minimizing risks associated with research. The principle of justice raises questions on the selection of people during the research process. Are people chosen for research according to class or left because of their vulnerability? This principle demands scrutiny during the research process. According to the American Psychological Association (APA 8.01 2019) on the contest of publication and research, psychologists should obtain informed consent from the participants during the research process. However, sometimes it is necessary to lift the veil on the principle of ethics according to the Belmont principle and APA when it is deemed useful in helping people. According to (Arjoon et al. 2018), utilitarianism is an ethical choice that will promote the common good of people. This principle violates APA codes of conduct and the Belmont principle. This principle is applicable in the real world. Suppose there is a shortage of blood in the hospital and ten patients are in danger of losing their lives. Harvesting blood for the common good of the ten patients can be done without informed consent. Our values are in tension when people’s lives are in danger. The ethical principle will have to be breached when an individual is in...