ETHICAL GUDELINES OF RESEARCH ON VULNERABLE GROUPS

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years many countries has presented their own general and specified ethical guidelines in research. In our country despite the existence of general ethical guidelines, the lack of specified guidelines is prominent. Due to importance of research and its progresses especially in recent years, we decided to compile the specified ethical guidelines in research. In this article we explain a part of the project: the ethical guidelines of research on vulnerable groups. Methods: After gathering available national and international references, the guidelines were written. Then the guidelines were revised by the researchers of ethics research center and some of known experts. Then the guidelines were discussed in workshops by the members of ethics committees. In the end law and religious inspection was done. Results: The ethical guidelines of research in vulnerable groups are discussed. The guidelines are categorized in five groups: children, mentally incapacitated, pregnant women and infants, prisoners and persons in emergency situations. Discussion: The goal of this project is to provide the facilities to carry out the guidelines and to protect the participants during the research. To accomplish the goal, the guidelines have to be sending to the universities and research centers throughout the country and adequate education have to be done in the format of workshop both for ethics committees and researchers.

Keywords

• ethics
• research
• vulnerable group
• guidelines