National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research

The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research was a U.S. government body created in 1974 to develop guidelines ensuring ethical treatment of people participating in medical and behavioral research. Its primary focus was to protect participants' rights, safety, and well-being by establishing principles like informed consent, beneficence, and justice. The commission's work led to the Belmont Report, a foundational document shaping ethical standards and regulations that continue to govern research involving human subjects today.