N.Y. Public Health Law § 2440: Policy and purpose

§ 2440. Policy and purpose. The use of human subjects in medical

research projects has brought about many beneficial scientific advances

resulting in the increased health and well-being of the human race.

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of individual human subjects in the

conduct of these human research projects is a matter of vital state

concern. Every human being has the right to be protected against the

possible conduct of medical or psychological research upon his body

without his voluntary informed consent. Human research may effect

dangerous and unanticipated results causing irreversible damage to the

human subject. Accordingly, it shall be the policy of this state to

protect its people against the unnecessary and improper risk of pain,

suffering or injury resulting from human research conducted without

their knowledge or consent.