What are the consequences of failing to obtain informed consent in medical research?
Informed consent is a fundamental ethical principle and a legal requirement for conducting medical research involving human participants. It means that the participants are fully informed about the purpose, methods, risks, benefits, and alternatives of the research, and that they voluntarily agree to participate without coercion or undue influence. Failing to obtain informed consent in medical research can have serious consequences for both the researchers and the participants, as well as for the scientific community and the public trust. In this article, we will discuss some of the potential consequences of failing to obtain informed consent in medical research and how to avoid them.