Final answer:
Informed consent is the key element that ensures the protection of participants in research by providing them with full disclosure about the study, its risks and benefits, and ensuring voluntary participation free from coercion. Research ethics and IRB oversight are also central in protecting participants' rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element that protects the rights of subjects and ensures self-determination, privacy, anonymity, confidentiality, fair treatment, and protection from discomfort and harm is b) Informed consent. Informed consent is a fundamental ethical requirement in research involving human participants. It involves explaining the purpose of the study, the procedures to be followed, the potential risks and benefits of participation, and ensuring that participation is voluntary. Participants must be able to comprehend the information and make an informed decision about their involvement without coercion.
Furthermore, research ethics are critical to safeguard the well-being and rights of participants. Researchers are obliged to adhere to ethical principles, such as minimizing harm and maintaining confidentiality. These ethical standards are overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), which review research proposals to ensure that the studies are conducted ethically and that participants are not exposed to undue risk.