International research ethics

This article provides a critical overview of the most important issues pert aining to the ongoing debate on international research ethics. It criticall y describes three problems of continuing concern: 1) the question of whethe r the distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic research should b e upheld 2) the questions of whether the currently demanded best proven dia gnostic and therapeutic method of treatment for all research subjects is fe asible both in developed and in developing countries, and whether it should be upheld; 3) the questions of who owns international research ethics guid elines and regulatory frameworks and, how decisions about changes to such i nternational guidelines can possibly be achieved given that it seems to be the case that genuine disagreement about issues of content is possible and likely.