What does the 'do no harm' principle require in public health research ethics?

• A. Minimize risk, maximize benefit, and ensure ethical review; protect participants.
• B. Respect participant privacy by skipping consent.
• C. Ensure compensation to participants is the sole priority.
• D. Publish findings before ethical approval.

Answer: (A)

Protecting participants from harm in public health research means designing and conducting studies that minimize potential risks while maximizing meaningful benefits, and subjecting the plan to independent ethical review. This combination ensures that risks are carefully evaluated and kept as low as possible, that any potential benefits justify those risks, and that safeguards—such as privacy protections and appropriate consent processes—are in place. An ethics review provides this check, balancing welfare, rights, and societal value before the study proceeds. Skipping consent, prioritizing compensation over safety, or bypassing ethical approval would each undermine this duty to protect participants and the integrity of the research.