A Declaration of Helsinki for animals

This article examines the ethical principles underlying the Declaration of Helsinki as an internationally agreed justifi- catory framework for human medical research. The aim of the analysis is to consider the potential usefulness of these principles for defining an internationally agreed ethical 'best practice' in clinical veterinary research (CVR). It is sug-gested that the specific ethical responsibilities of the clini-cian to protect the interests of their patient when conducting medical research may be translated into the veterinary setting. Through exploring risk and harm, un-proven interventions, vulnerability and informed consent, the article identifies the ethical risks of CVR. It is shown that veterinary regulators in the UK and the European Union have addressed these concerns to varying degrees; however, disagreements over the appropriateness of specific CVR practices are identified. A commitment to collaborative exploration of the benefits and challenges of implementing a Declaration of Helsinki for Animals is proposed.

Automated summary

This article explores the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki as a framework for human medical research and suggests its potential application in defining ethical best practices in clinical veterinary research (CVR). It discusses the specific ethical responsibilities of clinicians in protecting patient interests and translates them to the veterinary setting. The article identifies the ethical risks in CVR through examining issues such as risk and harm, unproven interventions, vulnerability, and informed consent.