What is research ethics?

The question of the nature of research ethics is discussed and it is argued that it is not just a bureaucratic exercise undertaken by Human Research Ethics Committees. Research ethics is therefore neither simply a hurdle requirement which researchers have to meet in order to do research with human participants nor research of ethics. One understanding of research ethics involves the idea of ethical research and this is addressed by a brief consideration of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007) and another understanding, the ethics of research with human participants is considered through a short discussion of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007)