Beyond voluntary consent: Hans Jonas on the moral requirements of human experimentation.
Open Access
- 1 June 1993
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Medical Ethics
- Vol. 19 (2) , 99-103
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.19.2.99
Abstract
In his essay, Philosophical Reflections on Experimenting with Human Subjects, Hans Jonas contends that except in cases of widespread medical emergencies, people do not have a moral or social obligation to volunteer to be subjects in medical experiments. He further argues that any appeal for volunteer subjects in medical experiments should whenever possible give priority to those who can identify with the project and offer a strong sense of commitment to its goals. The first of these claims is given support against some recent criticisms, but argument is offered to show that the second claim not only does little to enhance the stature of the standard requirement of free and informed consent but may even weaken the moral validity of the consent.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Experimentation with human subjects: a critique of the views of Hans Jonas.Journal of Medical Ethics, 1983