[Ethics in nursing research and investigation].

Investigation is indispensable for the nursing profession because it contributes to the development of the overall set of knowledge the profession has and thereby improves the practical, clinical care given to patients. However if we look into the history of research and investigation, we realize that investigators have not always respected persons' fundamental rights. This article starts with a short introduction which highlights the role played by investigation for the nursing profession. Then the author presents a historical overview on investigation in order to provide insights into the ethical problems related to investigation, and finally the author comments on the main ethical criteria which should be followed during investigation by nurses.