Final answer:
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are the entities responsible for ensuring that risks to subjects in research studies are outweighed by anticipated benefits to the individuals and society. They review research proposals for ethical compliance, focusing on risks, benefits, and informed consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Per the Belmont Report, the bodies that require risks to subjects to be outweighed by the sum of the anticipated benefit to the subject and the anticipated benefit to society in the form of knowledge gained from research are known as Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). These IRBs comprise individuals who are part of the institution's administration, scientists, community members, and sometimes experts in law and medical ethics. They are tasked with reviewing research proposals to ensure that the research is ethical and adheres to federal regulations with the principles of minimizing risks, maximizing benefits, informed consent, and respect for the potential participants.
Researchers must make sure that the risks posed to participants are not only minimized but also reasonable in comparison to the potential benefits. Additionally, informants need to be fully aware of these risks and benefits through the process of informed consent. The principle of beneficence emphasizes not just the advancement of science but also the well-being and fair treatment of the research participants.