Ethics in research with vulnerable human subjects
A review study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23310754 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stella R Taquette (0000-0001-7388-3025, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ciência & Saúde Coletiva (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1413-8123 • E-ISSN: 1678-4561 |
| Publisher | FapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1590/1413-81232026316.16182024en |
| OpenAlex | W7171437162 |
| SciELO | S1413-81232026000602202 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 53 |
Vulnerable individuals often do not have their rights guaranteed when they are recruited or not to researches. This review aims to analyze the knowledge produced in studies on ethics in research with vulnerable populations to contribute to greater protection and justice for this population. A search for articles in the PubMed and VHL databases was carried out using the mesh database terms “Ethics, research” AND “Vulnerable populations” over the past ten years. A total of 240 studies were found, of which 104 were duplicates. After reading the titles, abstracts and full texts, 33 articles were selected for thematic content analysis. Three main themes emerged: vulnerability x justice; coercion/exploitation/ethics dumping; and challenges/barriers to ensuring ethics in research. It was concluded that in order to conduct ethical research with vulnerable populations, ensuring due protection and opportunity to participate in studies that benefit them, it is necessary to: improve international ethical standards regarding vulnerable populations; take into account the particularities of subjects as well as the context in which they find themselves; ensure access to the best treatment available in clinical trials; and use specific and individualized strategies to minimize their vulnerabilities.
Context (archaeology) · Economic Justice · Human rights · Order (exchange) · Reading (process) · Research ethics · Thematic analysis · Vulnerability (computing) · Elder Abuse and Neglect · Ethics in Clinical Research · Mental Health and Patient Involvement
The concept of ‘vulnerability’ in research ethics
Model for developing context-sensitive responses to vulnerability in research
Reexamining the categorical exclusion of pediatric participants from controlled human infection trials
Respecting relational agency in the context of vulnerability
Power Difference and Risk Perception
Trends in health research ethics in the Philippines during the American Colonial Period (1898‐1946)
The Challenges of Research Informed Consent in Socio‐Economically Vulnerable Populations
Identifying and evaluating layers of vulnerability – a way forward
Why female sex workers participate in HIV research
Ethical Dilemmas in Qualitative Research
Phase 3 Oncology Clinical Trials in South Africa
Key Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Motivators for Research Participation Among Individuals Who Are Incarcerated
Trial Participants’ Understanding of Randomization, Double-Blinding, and Placebo Use in Low Literacy Populations
Perceived Risks and Benefits in IPV and HIV Research
Informing Informed Consent for HIV Research
Toward Ethical Research Practice With Deaf Participants
Deficiência, incapacidade e vulnerabilidade
Regulamentações, conflitos e ética da pesquisa médica em países em desenvolvimento
A crise ética da pesquisa clínica no Brasil
| Highly cited | No |
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