The foundation of ethical regulations in human subjects research can be traced back to which code?

The Nuremberg Code is recognized as one of the earliest and most influential ethical codes established following the atrocities committed during World War II, particularly regarding human experimentation. Formulated in 1947 during the Nuremberg Trials, this code laid the groundwork for the ethical treatment of human subjects in research by emphasizing the importance of voluntary consent, the necessity of beneficence, and the requirement to avoid unnecessary suffering.

This code introduced fundamental principles that still guide ethical considerations in human subjects research today, such as the necessity of scientific validity, the importance of a favorable risk-benefit assessment, and the imperative to ensure that subjects are fully informed participants. The influence of the Nuremberg Code set the stage for later ethical guidelines and regulations that continue to shape research ethics in various contexts, including the Declaration of Helsinki, the Belmont Report, and the Common Rule, which all build on the foundational ideas established by the Nuremberg Code.