Professionals like researchers, doctors, ethicists, and lawyers are largely responsible for the regulations and ethical guidelines that govern human subject research. Nearly everyone appointed to the groups that develop and apply research ethics standards is a professional. Although ordinary citizens are sometimes included in research ethics deliberations, they play a minor role.
Most surprising, and to me, disturbing, is the omission of people who know what it is like to be a research subject. Few people with direct experience as subjects have been involved in the creation and application of human research rules and guidelines. I believe their exclusion has deprived the oversight system of morally relevant information.