Applicability and usefulness of the Declaration of Helsinki for forensic research with human cadavers and remains.

Cadaver Ethics Forensic anthropology Forensic medicine Legal medicine Risk assessment

Journal

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology
ISSN: 1556-2891
Titre abrégé: Forensic Sci Med Pathol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101236111

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
03 2023
Historique:
accepted: 18 07 2022
pubmed: 7 8 2022
medline: 17 3 2023
entrez: 6 8 2022
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

Bodies of deceased persons and human remains and their specimens (i.e., organs, bones, tissues, or biological samples) are essential in forensic research but ad hoc worldwide-recognized ethical standards for their use are still lacking. Such standards are needed both to avoid possible unethical practices and to sustain research in the forensic field. Pending consensus within the forensic science community regarding this topic, with this article we aim to stimulate a debate as to the applicability and usefulness of the Declaration of Helsinki in the field of forensic research involving human cadavers and remains. Considering the fundamental differences compared to clinical research involving human beings and the different moral obligations involved, we focus on the risks, burdens, and benefits of research, ethics committee approval, and informed consent requirements. The Declaration of Helsinki framework allows forensic researchers to focus on substantial ethical principles promoting the consistency, integrity, and quality of research. Consensus regarding ethical standards and the adoption of national and supranational laws that clearly regulate the use of human cadavers and remains, including those from autopsies, continues to be of primary importance for the forensic science community.

Identifiants

pubmed: 35932421
doi: 10.1007/s12024-022-00510-4
pii: 10.1007/s12024-022-00510-4
pmc: PMC9362629
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

1-7

Informations de copyright

© 2022. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Valentina Scarpulla (V)

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy.

Alberto Amadasi (A)

Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Susi Pelotti (S)

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy.

Francesca Ingravallo (F)

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy. francesca.ingravallo@unibo.it.

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