#Declaration of helsinki code#

While the primary purpose of medical research is to generate new knowledge, this goal can never take precedence over the rights and interests of individual research subjects.ĩ. Medical research is subject to ethical standards that promote and ensure respect for all human subjects and protect their health and rights.Ĩ.

Even the best proven interventions must be evaluated continually through research for their safety, effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility and quality.ħ. The primary purpose of medical research involving human subjects is to understand the causes, development and effects of diseases and improve preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions (methods, procedures and treatments). Medical progress is based on research that ultimately must include studies involving human subjects.Ħ. The physician’s knowledge and conscience are dedicated to the fulfilment of this duty.ĥ. It is the duty of the physician to promote and safeguard the health, well-being and rights of patients, including those who are involved in medical research.

#Declaration of helsinki code#

The Declaration of Geneva of the WMA binds the physician with the words, “The health of my patient will be my first consideration,” and the International Code of Medical Ethics declares that, “A physician shall act in the patient’s best interest when providing medical care.”Ĥ. The WMA encourages others who are involved in medical research involving human subjects to adopt these principles.

Consistent with the mandate of the WMA, the Declaration is addressed primarily to physicians. The Declaration is intended to be read as a whole and each of its constituent paragraphs should be applied with consideration of all other relevant paragraphs.Ģ. The World Medical Association (WMA) has developed the Declaration of Helsinki as a statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, including research on identifiable human material and data. Adopted by the 18th WMA General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964Ģ9th WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 1975ģ5th WMA General Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983Ĥ1st WMA General Assembly, Hong Kong, September 1989Ĥ8th WMA General Assembly, Somerset West, Republic of South Africa, October 1996ĥ2nd WMA General Assembly, Edinburgh, Scotland, October 2000ĥ3rd WMA General Assembly, Washington DC, USA, October 2002 (Note of Clarification added)ĥ5th WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 2004 (Note of Clarification added)ĥ9th WMA General Assembly, Seoul, Republic of Korea, October 2008Ħ4th WMA General Assembly, Fortaleza, Brazil, October 2013 Preambleġ.