Ethics in research in medical education

Abstract

Medical education has been part of the essence of medicine since the beginning of its existence, but it was not until the 1950s that it became a scientific field in its own right, with its own principles and doctrine. As in all research, studies in medical education must comply with the ethical principles that govern research in humans, it is important that they are conducted in accordance with high ethical standards, ensuring due protection of the rights of participants and methodological quality. As in medical research, ethical guidelines for research in the field of education have also been created for researchers working at all levels of education. Research in medical education is growing, its role is important to ensure quality medical education based on the best evidence and, like all research, it requires compliance with the principles and guidelines of research ethics. In this paper we have addressed the particularities of research ethics in medical education, taking as a frame of reference Ezekiel Emanuel’s Seven Requirements.