The updated Declaration was formally adopted by the AMA's Federal Council last week.
The Australian Medical Association has formally adopted the updated World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects.2024 to serve as a high-level, overarching framework of ethical principles for medical research.
The AMA was honoured to be present at the World Medical Association General Assembly in Helsinki, Finland, in October 2024 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki and to vote in support of its latest iteration of the declaration.
First adopted at the 18th WMA General Assembly in Helsinki in 1964, the Declaration of Helsinki is widely recognised and respected as the foremost statement of principles governing the conduct of medical research involving human participants, outlining principles that are fundamental to respect for and protection of all research participants, including both patients and healthy volunteers.
Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council, along with the Australian Research Council and Universities Australia, acknowledges within the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research the important history and role of the Declaration of Helsinki, especially in recognising and developing ethical research instruments and guidelines.
Resulting from extensive expert and public consultation over a couple years, the current Declaration of Helsinki provides updated guidance on a range of general principles for individual doctors undertaking research involving humans while addressing common ethical research issues including risks; burdens and benefits; individual, group and community vulnerability; scientific requirements and research protocols; research ethics committees; privacy and confidentiality; free and informed consent; use of placebo; post-trial provisions; research registration, publication and dissemination of results; and unproven interventions in clinical practice. In addition, it provides new guidance on issues ranging from the use of biobanks and 'big data' to artificial intelligence and managing research misconduct.
