What ethical principle requires that individuals be safeguarded from harm in research settings?

The ethical principle that requires individuals to be safeguarded from harm in research settings is non-maleficence. This principle emphasizes the obligation of researchers to avoid causing any unnecessary harm to participants during the research process. It is a foundational concept in medical ethics and research ethics, ensuring that participants are not subjected to risks greater than those they would encounter in their daily lives.

Non-maleficence guides researchers to design studies with careful consideration of potential risks and to implement safeguards to minimize harm. It compels researchers to weigh the benefits of the research against the risks involved, striving for the highest standards of safety and ethical attention.

While the other principles—justice, respect for persons, and beneficence—play essential roles in ethical research, they serve different functions. Justice relates to fairness in the distribution of the benefits and burdens of research. Respect for persons emphasizes the importance of informed consent and acknowledging the autonomy of participants. Beneficence involves promoting the well-being of participants and maximizing benefits while minimizing harm. Each of these principles complements non-maleficence but does not specifically focus on the safeguarding from harm.