Research ethics and clinical trials: Fostering collaboration with research participants

Accountability in research is a concept that applies to researchers and study participants alike. Human subjects play an active part in the success or failure of a clinical trial by virtue of their understanding of a study's goals expectations of personal gain, and adherence to study design. Trials must be designed to address patient concerns, offer an improved consent process, and move beyond our narrow conception of “patient rights.”; Problems with protocol adherence may be reduced by conceptualizing clinical research as an endeavor with mutual accountability within a relational ethic.

Keywords:

• Ethics
• research participants
• clinical trials

Notes

Corresponding author: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. Tel.: [phone]. Fax: [phone].