Rhetoric and Research Ethics: An Answer to Annas

Abstract

At the outset of his “Report on the National Commission,” Professor Annas quotes a satire on federal commissions. He then hastens to add that the quoted passage is an unfair and untrue characterization of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects. This could be said of Annas' entire article. His central theme — that the Commission was biased in favor of research — is supported by poor evidence, and contrary evidence is neglected. For an accurate description of the Commission and its work, readers must turn elsewhere. We would suggest starting with the Commission's own reports, which include detailed explanations of the bases for its recommendations as well as the data that were considered by the Commission in arriving at the recommendations.