Meeting the challenges facing research ethics committees: some practical suggestions

Abstract

The local research ethics committee is the most independent body regulating the ethical conduct of research.1 The committee works on behalf of the subjects of research, to protect them from unacceptable risks and practices. However, the effectiveness of local research ethics committees in fulfilling their role has been challenged increasingly (see table). [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

2012 American College of Cardiology Foundation/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Expert Consensus Document on Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Standards Update

“…It is also not ethical for a cardiologist to receive an admission fee, referral fee, or other "kickback" or commission for admitting or referring a patient to a hospital or cardiac catheterization facility (242). This principle applies not only to fees, commissions, and compensation received from other physicians and hospitals, but also to those received from manufacturers of catheters, medications, instruments, devices, or supplies that may be used in the catheterization laboratory.…”

Centralized and Non-Centralized Ethics Review: A Five Nation Study

“…One recommendation in the literature to deal with the increase in applications and many other commonly cited issues associated with the review process, such as multiple reviews for multisite research, is the use of a system of multicenter or centralized review (e.g., Blunt et al, 1998;Whiteman et al, 2003;Pentz, 2004;Koski et al, 2005; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration et al, 2005;Walsh et al, 2005). Much of this literature is based on personal experience, often by people well qualified to speak on this process given their roles in the process as researchers, committee members, and policy makers.…”

Ethics behind closed doors: do research ethics committees need secrecy?

“…There is currently widespread frustration in the research community, in the regulatory authorities, and in the pharmaceutical industry with the efficiency of such committees. 7 8 At the same time there are doubts about the effectiveness of these independent committees in protecting patients 9 – 11. Doubts have arisen in the aftermath of some high profile scandals in the ethics of research in the United Kingdom and United States 12 13.…”