Research ethics across disciplines

The article compares selected research ethical codes from medical science and anthropology. Though based on the same basic principles of respect, beneficence and justice, their history and emphases are different. All the codes stress the importance of informed consent, though the biomedical codes are more elaborated especially regarding 'vulnerability', 'dependent relationships' and 'legally incompetent groups'. With respect to harm, the biomedical codes are more detailed, and in the two anthropological codes the emphasis is here on the potential harmful effect of the knowledge produced rather than the negative impact that may result from the data collection itself. When it comes to provision of benefits to the study population, the biomedical codes are generally more concrete, and where they focus on provision of (medical) services, the anthropological mention disseminating the study findings and the optional possibility for advocacy. The article concludes by recommending that research ethical code be compared between disciplines and that not least anthropology could benefit from that.