ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the principles on which ethical decisions are based. It describes the processes required to obtain informed consent. The chapter includes exercises with practical work on observation and note taking. In the UK, ethical standards are enforced by a national framework of local research ethics committees in combination with a set of regional multicentre research ethics committees. Ethical decisions in research are also subject to the dictates of scientific validity. Studies are carried out and given ethical approval even though informed consent has not been sought, because to do so would influence the outcome of the trial. The principles are derived from the ethical approaches. There are four principles: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. Like the ethical principles on which the rules are based, there are four. They are veracity, privacy, confidentiality and fidelity. Gaining informed consent from a patient is an essential part of any research. The setting and timing when seeking informed consent is obviously crucial.
