- The Declaration of Helsinki is the primary international guideline for ethical conduct in human biomedical research because it was specifically developed by the World Medical Association to provide comprehensive principles for medical researchers worldwide.
- Unlike the Nuremberg Code, which was a foundational but limited post-WWII document, the Declaration has been regularly updated to address emerging ethical issues.
- It emphasizes informed consent, risk-benefit assessment, and protection of vulnerable populations, making it the most authoritative and widely accepted ethical guideline in biomedical research today.

Reference: Emanuel, Ezekiel J., et al. Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Human Subject Research, in *The Oxford Textbook of Clinical Research Ethics*, Volume 1, Chapter 3, pp. 45-60.