Which historical event significantly led to the establishment of ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects?

The establishment of ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects was significantly influenced by the horrific experiments conducted by Nazi scientists during World War II. These experiments, which often involved extreme physical and psychological harm to participants without their consent, highlighted the urgent need for clear ethical standards in research practices. The atrocity of these actions prompted the international community to recognize the necessity of protecting human subjects in research.

In response to these events, a series of ethical guidelines and codes were developed, starting with the Nuremberg Code in 1947, which specifically aimed to protect individuals from inhumane treatment and ensured that consent must be obtained from participants. This code laid the groundwork for modern ethical standards and regulations, such as the Belmont Report, which later further defined principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice in research.

While the other choices mention significant research studies or reports, they do not specifically address the historical impetus for the formalization of ethical guidelines in research on human subjects as powerfully as the Nazi experiments did. Thus, the tragic lessons learned from these inhumane practices continue to influence research ethics today.