Approaching ethical reasoning in nursing research through a communitarian perspective.

ABSTRACT

Most nurse researchers are embedded in research ethics guidelines based predominantly on the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice. They are oriented toward protecting the rights of individual research participants. However, in cross-cultural, community-based, and international projects, further examination is required of community rights, as an entity in and of itself, to acknowledge and protect the community's rights. We suggest that communitarian philosophy is a perspective for the researcher to use in examining cross-cultural and international ethical questions. To show this assertion, dilemmas in community research are examined by using case studies and existing research ethics guidelines. Specific recommendations are offered for nursing scientists in practice, educational, and research settings seeking to balance the rights of the individual with those of the community.