Nontherapeutic

Nontherapeutic refers to interventions, procedures, or activities not intended to provide direct therapeutic benefit to the person undergoing them. The term is used in clinical research and medical contexts to distinguish actions aimed at treating a condition from those conducted primarily for data collection, safety assessment, or scientific knowledge.

In research settings, nontherapeutic interventions may include placebo controls, sham procedures, tissue sampling, medical imaging, or other procedures performed solely to gather information or evaluate safety and efficacy. Participants may face risks without a guaranteed therapeutic benefit. Ethical oversight is typically provided by institutional review boards or ethics committees, and informed consent is required. When research involves children, protections include parental permission and, when appropriate, assent from the minor, with limits on risk and burden.

Ethical considerations emphasize beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for autonomy. Debates surround acceptability of nontherapeutic research, particularly for vulnerable populations, and whether potential social value of the research justifies exposing individuals to risk without direct benefit. Safeguards include risk minimization, independent review, transparent disclosure of purpose, and ongoing monitoring.

In clinical practice outside research, nontherapeutic can apply to assessments or tests that do not aim to treat a condition but may inform diagnosis, prognosis, or care planning. The term helps differentiate from therapeutic procedures and supports clear communication about purpose and expected outcomes.