Abstract

The justification of non-therapeutic research on incapacitated persons isastill unsolved problem, because in this situation, both legitimising factors of research - informed consent and therapeutic benefit - are absent and the question arises as to whether such research is morally justifiable at all. The paperwill ask if there could be arguments for such research. One argument could be that under certain circumstances, an institutionally decreed global renunciation of any type of research on this group of persons could also be illegitimate. Not doing research can do injury to the Principles of Justice because in this manner the needs of a particular group may unjustifiably be ignored. This would aggravate the disadvantaged position of this group in a groundless manner and, in particular, would deprive its members of the basis of self respect Precisely in view of this aspect of Justice non-therapeutic studies on decisionally impaired persans must also be permitted in order to ensure the preservation of basic social goods in regard to these persons.