Research Ethics Committees Flashcards
some people see ethics committees as
hurdles
however should be seen as
gateways to high quality research
ethics committees prevent researchers from becoming
complacent
Main aspects research Ethics Committee
1) design and conduct of research
2) Participant protection
design and conduct of research
- consideration of the rights and welfare of research subjects and those whom the research will impact
- research which involves others as participants creates the possibility of an invasion of the participants interests or rights
participant protection
‘medical research is subject to ethical standards that promote respect for all human beings and protect their health and rights.. considerations related to well-being of the human subject should take precedence over the interests of science and society’- Helsinki
Henry Beecher
1996
- NEJM article- Ethics and Clinical research
- 22 examples bad research practices
- from mainstream researcher
Maurice Pappworth
human guinea pos 1967
- details over 200 cases in the US and UK infants, children, the elderly, people in institutions often without their knowledge and consent
Alder Hays organ retention
1988-95- liverpool
-removal, storage and disposal of human tissue, from dad patients, including organs from children, without knowledge or consent
-2000 relative brought a suitcase against the NHS 2004
-
Human Tissue Act
2004
principles
- respect for persons autonomy- consent
- respect peoples privacy
- to ensure confidentiality of the peoples information
- social justice
- not to cause undue physical or mental arm
- ases risk/benefit
quote
ethical practice requires that participants, at a min, be fully informed, are to volunteer without inducement, free to opt out without redress, and be fully protected in regard to safety to the limits of best practice
also important to consider
safeguarding researchers
informed consent
is the decision,w which must be written, dated and signed, to take part in a research project freely after being duly informed of its nature, significance, implications and risk and appropriately documented
for some situations
ongoing consent and sensitivity to non-verbal cues may be required
participants must always be
free to ask questions at any time and can withdraw from the project whenever without any prejudice to service or care they may be receiving
a good technique used in informed consent
allowing a cooling off period to consider their participation- time between reading the info sheet and actually agreeing to take part
-also testing comprehension
what information must be provided to participants to ensure informed consent
- what their participation involves
- risks and benefits
- what the research is about
- what data is being collected and what will be done with it
- wehere the data will be stored, who has access to it, how long it will be kept
must also be informed
what happens if things go wrong: provide info about safeguarding, contact details of researchers and ethics committee chair
Recruitment issues to be considered
Who is in your sample?
- are there vulnerable groups involved?
Recruitment:
-how will you recruit? are you offering expenses or payment? Beware of inducement. Is there a gatekeeper? Power imbalances
Is there a pre-existing sample
- if so was consent given for proposed study?
Data protection act
1998
-research must comply