With great sadness, we recognize the passing of Tom Beauchamp, a pioneering figure in bioethics whose influence on human subjects research and biomedical ethics will endure for generations.
Beauchamp, who passed away on February 19, 2024, was a professor of philosophy at Georgetown University and a senior research scholar (retired) at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics. His work shaped the ethical foundations of modern research, guiding the principles that safeguard human participants in clinical and behavioral studies today.
A Legacy of Ethical Guidance
Beauchamp was instrumental in drafting the landmark Belmont Report (1978), which established three core ethical principles—respect for persons, beneficence, and justice—that continue to govern research with human subjects. His contributions did not stop there. Alongside James Childress, he co-authored Principles of Biomedical Ethics (1979), a groundbreaking text that introduced the widely accepted four-principle framework of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Now in its eighth edition, this book remains a cornerstone of bioethics education and practice worldwide.
Beyond human subjects research, Beauchamp’s scholarship spanned informed consent, universal ethics, animal research ethics, business ethics, and the history of philosophy. His intellectual contributions received numerous accolades, including The Hastings Center’s Bioethics Founders’ Award and lifetime achievement awards from PRIM&R and the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH).
A Scholar and Mentor
Despite his many achievements, Beauchamp was known for his humility, generosity, and kindness. He mentored countless students and colleagues, always approachable and willing to engage in thoughtful discourse. His ability to translate complex ethical dilemmas into clear, applicable principles made him a great scholar and a true advocate for ethical integrity in research and medicine.
As an organization dedicated to human subjects research, good clinical practice, and bioethics education, we recognize and honor Tom Beauchamp’s immense contributions to our field. His work has profoundly shaped our ethical standards today, ensuring we conduct research with the highest regard for human dignity and justice.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy endures in the ethical frameworks he helped create and the many lives he influenced.
Rest in peace, Tom Beauchamp.
