Which are Belmont Report's three core ethical principles?

• A. Nonmaleficence; beneficence; fidelity.
• B. Justice; veracity; autonomy.
• C. Confidentiality; privacy; autonomy.
• D. Respect for persons; beneficence; justice.

Answer: (D)

The Belmont Report uses three guiding principles to shape ethical human subjects research: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Respect for persons means recognizing that individuals have autonomy and should be treated as capable of making their own decisions, with extra protection for those who have diminished autonomy; in practice this shows up as informed consent, voluntary participation, and ongoing respect for participants’ rights. Beneficence requires researchers to maximize benefits and minimize harms, which involves a careful risk–benefit assessment and safeguards to protect participants from unnecessary harm. Justice demands that the burdens and benefits of research be distributed fairly, so subject selection is fair and not exploitative, and the benefits of research are accessible to the populations involved.

The other options mix terms that are important in ethics but are not the three Belmont principles. For example, nonmaleficence and confidentiality are key ethical concerns, veracity relates to truth-telling, and autonomy is part of respect for persons, but the specific trio identified by Belmont Report is respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.