Which trio of moral principles is described as applying to human research ethics?

• A. Autonomy, Beneficence, and Justice
• B. Respect for Persons, Beneficence, Justice
• C. Privacy, Autonomy, Justice
• D. Autonomy, Nonmaleficence, Justice

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested is the trio of ethical principles that guide studies involving human subjects. The Belmont Report identifies three core principles: Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice. Respect for Persons emphasizes treating individuals with autonomy and requiring informed consent, especially protecting those who may have diminished decision-making capacity. Beneficence pushes researchers to maximize potential benefits while minimizing possible harms. Justice requires fairness in how the burdens and benefits of research are distributed among groups.

The best answer reflects these ideas by listing Autonomy, Beneficence, and Justice. Autonomy represents the Respect for Persons component—the emphasis on respecting participants’ decisions and rights in research. When combined with Beneficence and Justice, this trio captures the essential ethical framework used to guide human research.

Other options mix in concepts like Privacy or Nonmaleficence. Privacy is important in research ethics but is not one of the three foundational principles from the Belmont Report, and Nonmaleficence, while related to avoiding harm, is typically grouped with Beneficence under the broader aim of maximizing benefit and minimizing risk.