Conducting research with humans is a vital activity for the advancement of knowledge. It is also one which requires that great care be taken to ensure the protection of those enrolled as subjects. Module topics include the historical development of research ethics; international and national published guidelines; distinctions between research, treatment, and quality assurance; the nature of informed consent; and essential ethical principles to guide research including respect for persons, promotion of well-being, and justice or fair distribution of benefits and burdens. Particular emphasis will be placed on exploring the strengths and limitations of the prevailing Canadian 'guidelines', the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, 1998.