Which ethical principle requires that research not exploit individuals due to their social or economic status?

• A. Justice
• B. Autonomy
• C. Beneficence
• D. Nonmaleficence

Answer: (A)

Fair treatment in who bears the burdens and who benefits from research is what justice calls for in research ethics. The principle of justice requires that research not exploit people because of their social or economic status, and that subject selection and the distribution of benefits and burdens be fair. This means avoiding recruiting or exploiting disadvantaged groups simply because they can be pressured or coerced by incentives, and ensuring that any risks or burdens are not imposed on a particular group without fair access to the eventual benefits of the research. In practice, justice guides who is chosen as a subject, how risks are shared, and who ultimately benefits from the study, aiming to prevent exploitation of vulnerable populations.

Autonomy centers on individuals' ability to make voluntary, informed decisions about participation, so it’s about consent rather than exploitation tied to status. Beneficence focuses on maximizing benefits and minimizing harms to participants, and nonmaleficence means avoiding harm; neither specifically addresses exploitation based on social or economic position in the way justice does.