Agencies Seek New Rules for Research With Humans

Federal agencies are planning next week to propose new rules for research involving human subjects. Several research organizations said that they were studying the planned notice. Existing rules have been criticized by some for not sufficiently protecting human subjects, while many scientists say that the process of complying has become too complex. Further, many social scientists have pushed for change, arguing that the current system is designed for medical research and needlessly delays important social science work.