Ethics in Research

It is crucial to revisit past ethical violations to avoid repeating these mistakes.

By Ashley Breton Posted on: August 2021 Updated on: July 2022

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Image courtesy of the Toronto Star

Research ethics are essential for many reasons. Most importantly, they value respect for human dignity and help research proceed in accordance with the three core principles of the Canadian Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS): Respect for Persons, Concern for Welfare, and Justice. These core principles go beyond disciplinary boundaries and therefore, apply to the full range of research covered by TCPS.

However, as graduate researchers, it is crucial to revisit past ethical violations to avoid repeating these mistakes. In Canada, for instance, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples have been used as research subjects without their consent. An example of this is presented in the research findings of MacDonald et al. (2014), who assert the Canadian government withheld food from hungry Aboriginal children in nutritional experiments in the 1940s.

For more information on ethical standards pertaining to research involving First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples of Canada, see Chapter 9 of TCPS 2. In addition, the Toronto Star wrote a well-informed post covering this ethical issue.

References

Macdonald, N. E., Stanwick, R., & Lynk, A. (2014). Canada's shameful history of nutrition research on residential school children: The need for strong medical ethics in Aboriginal health research. Paediatrics & Child Health, 19(2), 64. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/19.2.64