Ethics in Research Joy C MacDermid BScPT PhD

Resources Notes in library Articles on reserve Ethics in human research- Makrides and Richman Ethics in conduct- UWO Policy MRC Guidance on research ethics

Is it necessary? History of abuse by researchers Subjects may be a position of less power/knowledge Researchers interest may conflict with subjects Societies interest may conflict with subjects

What is research? Not all research studies require ethics review and not all experimentation is research All experimentation on research subjects requires ethics review by an appropriate independent board

Issues in ethics of clinical research Control group- Is it OK to withhold treatment : Placebo, standard therapy Informed consent- Deceptive research rare- Double blind vs. single blind

Issues in ethics of clinical research Study design? Is the study (internally) valid Are risks and benefits considered/balanced? Are adequate measures taken to protect the subject from harm

Issues on informed consent Are subjects competent to provide consent Are subjects providing an educated decision based on reasonable knowledge (purpose, risk/benefits; expectations) Are subjects able to decide freely i.e. without coercion or inducement

Ethical Conduct of Researchers Academic honesty i.e. no plagiarism, –falsification of data, –misrepresentation of data, –violation of terms of grants, –improper use of grant funds/equipment, –misrepresentation of credentials

Ethical Conduct of Researchers –Ethical supervision-adequate –Data Recording data quality retention of records access ownership defined Authorship all authors should be recognized are and none who did not contribute are Avoid conflict or interest