by Holly Taylor ¹

• ¹ The Johns Hopkins University

The course introduces students to the ethics of human subject research.

Course Description

Ethics of Human Subject Research (2 credits) is offered by the Department of Health Policy and Management and the Distance Education Division, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and The Phoebe R. Berman Bioethics Institute, Johns Hopkins University. The course introduces students to the ethics of human subject research. Ethical theory and principles are introduced, followed by a brief history of research ethics. Topics covered in lectures and moderated discussions include informed consent for research participation, role and function of institutional review boards, just selection of research subjects, ethical aspects of study design, and privacy and confidentiality. Student evaluation will be based on participation in moderated discussions, an informed consent exercise and written case analysis.

Course Objectives

After completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the principles of bioethics and how these principles should be applied the ethical conduct of human subject research.
• Identify, define, and analyze ethical issues in the context of human subject research.
• Identify, through case studies, ethical issues that arise in different contexts and begin to reason through an appropriate course of action.
• Draft informed consent forms.