Table 1.

Formulations of the principle of precedence of individual interests

Ethical guideline	Year	Formulation
Oviedo Convention	1998	Article 2 “The interests and welfare of the human being shall prevail over the sole interest of society or science”
Directive 2001/20/EC	2001	Article 4, par. i, and Article 5, par. h “The interests of the patient always prevail over those of science and society”
Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights	2005	Article 3, par. 2. “The interests and welfare of the individual should have priority over the sole interests of science or society”
Ethical Considerations for Clinical Trials on Medicinal Products Conducted with the Paediatric Population	2006	(11) “The child’s interest should always prevail over that of science and society. This is paramount when assessing and monitoring risk. Risk is to be viewed in balance to the benefit”
Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use, and repealing the Directive 2001/20/EC	2012	Article 28, par. 2. “The rights, safety and well-being of the subjects shall prevail over the interests of science and society”
Declaration of Helsinki	2013	Section I, Paragraph 8 “While the primary purpose of medical research is to generate new knowledge this goal can never take precedence of the rights and interests of individual subjects”