Ideally, prospective subjects should understand all features of the research that reasonably might be expected to influence willingness to participate. Furthermore, at the conclusion of the study researchers should freely provide to participants, upon request, information explaining the purposes of the study, the genuine nature of the design, and the results. This access to information should be clearly stated in writing on the consent form which participants sign. If a prospective subject is less than eighteen years of age, then the prior informed consent of a parent or legal guardian is required and the conditions prescribed herein pertain also to the parent or guardian. Researchers must respect the privacy and human dignity of subjects.
Research participants possess the right to decide how much of themselves to share with others.
When possible, subjects should participate anonymously. If the research design precludes the anonymity of research participants, then information that is traceable to the individual subject or to their contributions to the study must be treated with strict confidentiality. Once obtained, personal data about subjects may not be revealed to any third parties or the public in such a way as to make possible the identification of individual participants. A statement explaining the anonymity or confidentiality of information associated with the individual participants and their contributions to the research must be presented in writing to proposed subjects prior to their participation . Researchers should make every effort to preserve the personal integrity and dignity of human subjects, including refraining from research which could conceivably humiliate or belittle participants.