Question

Should prisoners receive reduced sentences or preferential treatment because of their participation as research subjects? Why or why not? (use the 4 tenants of bioethics - autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice)

Answer 1

Should prisoners receive reduced sentences or preferential treatment because of their participation as research subjects?

Yes, prisoners should be receiving reduced sentences on the basis of their participation in research. This is because, many of the prisoners voluntarily participate in the research studies. On the basis of the ethical principles, these participants participate by their own will, which fulfils the principle of respecting their autonomy. These participants participate and their participation helps in providing benefit to many other people. This pertains to the principle of beneficence. Many also take part with the thought that this participation would try to relieve some of their guilt. The participants should be having the right to decide if they want to participate or not. Any research should be such that it should not harm the subject. Research should be meant such that there would not be any violation of the constitutional rights of the subjects. Research to prove its worth for helping many individuals serves its purpose as doing justice for the population and the prisoners as well. For their good gesture, it would rather be ethical if their sentence would be reduced.