Authors should prevent their scientific articles from being misused for racism, sexism or homophobia.| Photo: zVg

The editors of Nature have developed new guidelines for scientific studies involving human populations. Their aim is to ensure that research does not harm humans.

In its editorial of 14 June 2022, Nature refers to science having already established rules to limit the risk of psychological damage to participants in scientific studies. One of the many starting points is the Stanford prison experiment conducted in 1971 by the American psychologist Philip Zimbardo.

Today, there are several ethical frameworks that govern studies involving human participants. These include the 1964 Helsinki Declaration on medical research and the 1979 Belmont Report, which also includes behavioural studies. But, notes Nature, “these are generally silent about the benefits and harms of academic research whose conclusions could affect groups of people that haven’t directly participated”. For example, research that could lead to stigmatisation, discrimination or racism, sexism or homophobia towards certain people.

The new guidelines encourage stakeholders to respect the dignity and rights of individuals, whether or not they are directly involved in research. They call for consideration of the potentially detrimental implications of research, minimising the potential for misuse and the risk of harm, and using respectful and non-stigmatising language. And they are not meant to impede human research, the editors of Nature assure us. But critics warn that, by trying to set too restrictive a framework, they could undermine the truth.