[Ethical principles of biomedical research in humans: application and limitations in Latin America and the Caribbean].

The characteristics and limitations that investigators in developed countries should take into account in conducting biomedical research on human subjects in regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean are reviewed. The authors first cite international ethical principles that have been established in the developed countries to serve as a guide in dealing with the ethical problems that arise in this type of research. These principles should always be borne in mind by every investigator, regardless of the country where the research is being done. The paper goes on to briefly review some of the circumstances in certain Latin American and Caribbean countries that could pose practical limitations for direct application of the ethical principles described.