Belmont Report Summary
Prior to the development of the Belmont Report, scientists and researchers decisions were made about studies based on their own principles and goals, there were no guiding principles to assist in the ethics of their decision making. Experimentation on human subjects often occurred without appropriate information or consent of the subject. In addition experimentation occurred with complete disregard of the subjects as persons.
The Belmont Report includes 3 basic ethical principles, respect of persons, beneficence, and justice. Respect for persons means that individuals are regarded as self-governing and persons who, due to physical or mental impairment are unable to exercise autonomy are protected.
Beneficence is the second ethical principle