The ethical requirement of informed consent means that:
A) all participants must read and approve any written reports of the research results before they are published.
B) participants must be completely informed about the purpose and conditions of the research, and must be free to withdraw from the research at any time.
C) research participants must agree not to divulge any information about the nature of the study to any outside party.
D) once the participants have agreed to participate in the study, they may not withdraw for any reason other than medical necessity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Informed consent requires that participants be fully informed about the purpose and conditions of the research, and that they have the freedom to withdraw their participation at any time. This ensures that participants are not being coerced or misled into participating in research, and that their autonomy and well-being are protected. Option A is incorrect because participants do not need to approve written reports of research results, though they may have the option to review them. Option C is incorrect because participants have the right to discuss the nature of the research with others if they choose to do so, as long as it does not violate confidentiality agreements. Option D is incorrect because participants always have the right to withdraw from a study, regardless of the reason.

The Ethical Requirement of Informed Consent Means That