Abstract

The events triggered by the September 11, 2001, destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City have had profound effects on the concept of the individual’s freedom and the relationship between the individual and society. Independence, liberty, freedom of belief and expression, and freedom of choice were held as being of paramount importance in American society. In the medical arena, emphasis was placed on fully informing patients about their diseases and possible management modalities, as well as ensuring that patients become active collaborators in the management of their disease. Great strides also have been made to ensure that volunteers enrolled in research projects are truly volunteers, that they are fully informed of the purpose and nature of the research project, and that they give their consent to participate in the project free of any possible coercion.