What is Nuremberg Code?

The Nuremberg Code was created after the conclusion of World War II, more than 70 years, ago to standardise any medical experiments on humans. The code established 10 principles that needed to be followed by medical professionals.

The code, which was formulated after trials of “major war criminals and Nazi sympathisers“. The first trial, which was conducted under the Nuremberg Military Tribunals in 1947, included nearly two dozen physicians from the Nazi Party.

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These officials were accused of “crimes against humanity for the atrocious experiments they carried out on unwilling prisoners of war”, according to US-based research organisation IMARC.

The main highlight of the Nuremberg Code was the very first principle that was established. The first element of the code emphsised the need for voluntary consent.

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According to reports from IMARC, the following elements were included in the code to prevent any inhumane experiments:

1. Voluntary consent is essential
2. The results of any experiment must be for the greater good of society
3. Human experiments should be based on previous animal experimentation
4. Experiments should be conducted by avoiding physical/mental suffering and injury
5. No experiments should be conducted if it is believed to cause death/disability
6. The risks should never exceed the benefits
7. Adequate facilities should be used to protect subjects
8. Experiments should be conducted only by qualified scientists
9. Subjects should be able to end their participation at any time
10. The scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment when injury, disability, or death is likely to occur

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a member of the Republican party, slammed United States President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccination mandates on Thursday citing the Nuremberg Code.

She wrote on Twitter, “We don’t take orders from Fascist in my office. Remember the Nuremberg Code Joe? By law, we have a right to choose to participate or not.”