Research ethics in people with diminished mental capacity: Informed Consent

In any research it is considered that respect for persons should be unconditional, ie, that is to be welcomed that in principle, all individuals should be treated as autonomous agents. When someone has a disability and therefore a diminished autonomy, is entitled to protection, to assess its ability to decide. Informed consent is an enforceable right and a clear manifestation of the autonomy to make decisions on the part of the research subject or his family / guardian in the event of not being able. Whenever the subject of research and study to understand the man or woman, must be ethically regulated as any research, whether biomedical, epidemiological or social science.