Why should the selection of research subjects be scrutinized?

The selection of research subjects needs to be scrutinized primarily to prevent exploitation and ensure just treatment. This aligns with one of the three core principles outlined in the Belmont Report: justice. The principle of justice emphasizes that the benefits and burdens of research should be distributed fairly among all groups in society. This means that vulnerable populations should not bear an undue share of the risks of research, while others reap the benefits.

Ensuring just treatment also involves the ethical obligation to respect the autonomy of individuals and to provide them with equitable access to participation in research studies. Proper scrutiny during the selection process helps to safeguard against the potential for abuse or coercion, particularly for those who may be less able to protect their own interests in the context of research.

While ensuring that subjects provide reliable data is important, it is secondary to protecting the rights and dignity of participants. Similarly, maximizing financial efficiency or limiting diversity does not align with ethical research practices and could lead to biased or incomplete findings. Therefore, the focus on just treatment and the prevention of exploitation forms the cornerstone of ethical research involving human subjects.