ENSURINGINFORMEDCONSENTfrompatientsandexperimentalsubjectsistodayconsiderednormalclinicalpracticeandanessentialpartofbiomedicalresearchinvolvinghumansubjects.However,'informedconsent'isatechnicaltermfromthespheresofethicsandlawasdevelopedagainstaWesternculturalbackgroundand,asaconcept,isstillrelativelynewtoChina.