Clinical research: balance and perspectives

Abstract

This article questions how the growth of the system of regulation and control of biomedical research may end up turning against its raison d’être. To address the need for change, the author takes us through the relationship between medical practice and clinical research from the days dominated by the principle of beneficence (up to the twentieth century), autonomy, non-maleficence and justice (since 1970) when the period of regulation began. Regulations have proved to be necessary but not sufficient, and they now pose the need for a recovery of an ethics of virtue (habits and lifestyles) and duties. Today the logic of research and clinical practice are approaching each other and we are at a turning point which makes it necessary to distinguish research ethics regulations.