384 OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE doi:10.1093/occmed/kqt041 The Oxford Textbook of Clinical Research Ethics

Research Ethics is ‘to create a comprehensive and system atic synthesis of all the literature relevant to the ethics of clinical research, broadly construed’. In this, the editors, all from the US National Institutes of Health, have been largely successful. The book’s 73 chapters, set out in 11 sections, are written by experts drawn internationally, with many of the 87 contributors being recognized lead ers in the fields of medical and research ethics. The book is organized in a logical sequence beginning with a selected examination of historical events and a section devoted to ‘codes, declarations, and other ethical guidance’. These are followed by seven sections cover ing scientific design issues (including riskbenefit assess ments and participant selection); independent ethical review and oversight; and informed consent. The fina