On October 16-19, 2024, the World Medical Association (WMA) General Assembly in Helsinki marked the eighth revision of the Declaration of Helsinki. The document, created in 1964, remains a key determinant of ethical standards for research involving human subjects, especially in situations where national regulations are more permissive or lacking altogether.
Changes to the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki
Published Oct. 30, 2024 07:49
WMA's newly elected president (for 2024-2025), Dr. Ashok Philip, a representative of the Malaysian Medical Association, emphasized in his speech that the update of the Declaration of Helsinki is the result of more than 30 months of intensive work and consultation. It is not only an expression of the WMA's concern for the ethics of research involving human subjects, but also evidence of strengthening the protection of patients' rights and increasing the transparency of research processes.
Key changes in the revision of the Declaration of Helsinki
The new wording of the Declaration of Helsinki includes provisions on the need to increase protection for the most vulnerable groups in society. Also included are provisions calling for fairness and equality in research and greater transparency in clinical trials to ensure better protection of patients' rights.
Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., head of the working group responsible for revising the document, stressed that while earlier versions of the Declaration of Helsinki were aimed mainly at WMA member countries, the revision now points to the moral obligation of every physician to treat research participants with respect for their dignity. The call for ethics is addressed to everyone involved in conducting research, regardless of the type of institution or organization.
The main areas of change in the Declaration of Helsinki:
- Study participant orientation:
- Respect the dignity and safety of research participants, taking into account their vulnerability to risks.
- Seeking to engage communities and ensure global justice.
- Making informed consent mandatory to provide an ethical foundation for research.
- Using more accessible communication, from the perspective of the research participant, to ensure a better understanding of the purpose and methods of the research.
- Benefits and value of scientific research:
- Focus on "individual and public health" as a research priority.
- Emphasize the importance of discipline and scientific integrity.
- Equal sharing of the benefits, risks and burdens of research.
Source: NIL
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Deklaracja Helsińska
