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Human research ethics
It is expected that all research involving, or impacting on humans is performed in an ethical manner. The Australian Health Ethics Committee develops guidelines for health and medical research. The following area of the site has more information about the guidelines, the history of ethics in health research, and relevant documents for ethics and health researchOverview of Ethical conduct of researchEthics and ethical principles extend to all spheres of human activity. They apply to our dealings with each other, with animals and with the environment. They also govern our interactions in conducting research. Ethics and ethical principles seek to identify good, desirable or acceptable conduct and provide the rationale for those principles. History of ethics and ethical review of human research in Australia Ethical review of research involving humans has occurred since the 1960s. Role of Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) in the Ethical conduct of research AHEC currently provides advice and support to over 220 Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), which are responsible for the ethical review of research involving humans. AHEC also monitors the activities of these HRECs, which are required to report to AHEC annually. |
AHEC guidelines for research involving humansUnder the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992, the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) has statutory responsibility for developing guidelines for the ethical conduct of medical research involving humans. AHEC also produces ethical guidelines covering specific aspects of health and medical research. Clinical trials involving humans A 'clinical trial' is the name commonly given to research in which a therapeutic, preventive or diagnostic intervention is tested. Clinical trials are conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines and in certain circumstances in accordance with legislation. Reference documents for the conduct of ethical research involving humans Links to AHEC/NHMRC reference documents, together with external documents and URLs. |
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