Importance Of Respect For Autonomy In Research

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“…and Article 1 asserts that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’(Neal, 2014). Similarly, Article 1 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights declares that ‘Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected (Neal, 2014).”
Respect for autonomy in medical practice, is the right for competent adults to be sufficiently informed about decisions regarding their own medical care (“Autonomy,”2016). This includes consent or informed agreement from the patient before any treatment or investigation occurs so that they are able to make a knowledgeable decision(“Autonomy,”2016). The constitutional law states that “…adults have the right to personal autonomy in matters relating to their own medical care. Adults, as long as they are competent to understand their decision, have the right to refuse medical treatment, even life-saving medical treatment, though a state may require clear and convincing evidence that a person wanted treatment ended before it allows termination. A state may restrict family members from terminating treatment for another, because this right belongs to each individual.
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In the consideration of research, it allows the right for participants to understand the purpose and the risk that are involved. In all, respect for autonomy comprises the ethical principles of both beneficence and justice. Beneficence are actions taken to benefit participants by preventing or removing harm to improve health (Pantilat, 2008). For example, providing medical attention to someone in a car wreck or flu vaccinations to help decrease the spreading of the virus. Justice is simply allowing the participant to understand why they have been seen as an interest to the research. With these three ethical principles in mind, it is important to abide by these principles because participants should always have the right to make a choice regardless of their background