Ethical research is guided by established principles, standards and frameworks that protect the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of research participants.
The FPD Research Ethics Committee provides access to selected South African and international reference documents to assist researchers in understanding and applying these principles.
Search the collection or filter by document category to find the relevant research ethics guidance.
National Department of Health – 2024, Third Edition. This national guideline sets out principles, processes and structures for ethical health research in South Africa. It covers research ethics review, participant protection, informed consent, research governance and the responsibilities of Research Ethics Committees.
The World Medical Association's ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, including research involving identifiable human material and data. It addresses participant rights, risk and benefit, informed consent, privacy and independent ethics review.
Prepared by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences in collaboration with the World Health Organization. These guidelines provide practical ethical guidance for health-related research involving humans, including informed consent, vulnerable groups, community engagement and research-related harm.
A foundational statement of ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects in research. It sets out three core principles: respect for persons, beneficence and justice.
If you need guidance on research ethics requirements or submitting an application to the FPD Research Ethics Committee, please consult the relevant Research Ethics sections or contact the Secretariat.