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Current landscape of research ethics consultation services: National survey results. J Clin Transl Sci 2023; 6:e148. [PMID: 36756077 PMCID: PMC9879897 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The goal of a research ethics consultation service (RECS) is to assist relevant parties in navigating the ethical issues they encounter in conduct of research. The goal of this survey was to describe the current landscape of research ethics consultation and document if and how it has changed over the last decade. Methods The survey instrument was based on the survey previously circulated. We included a number of survey domains from the previous survey with the goal of direct comparison of outcomes. The survey was sent to 57 RECS in the USA and Canada. Results Forty-nine surveys were completed for an overall response rate of 86%. With the passing of 10 years, the volume of consults received by RECS surveyed has increased. The number of consults received by a subset of RECS remains low. RECS continues to receive requests for consults from a wide range of stakeholders. About a quarter of RECS surveyed actively evaluate their services, primarily through satisfaction surveys routinely shared with requestors. The number of RECS evaluating their services has increased. We identified a group of eight key competencies respondents find as key to providing RECS. Conclusions The findings from our survey demonstrate that there have been growth and development of RECS since 2010. Further developing evaluation and competency guidelines will help existing RECS continue to grow and facilitate newly established RECS maturation. Both will allow RECS personnel to better serve their institutions and add value to the research conducted.
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Taylor HA, Porter KM, Paquette ET, McCormick JB, Tumilty E, Arnold JF, Spector-Bagdady K, Danis M, Brandt D, Shah J, Wilfond BS, Lee LM. Creating a Research Ethics Consultation Service: Issues to Consider. Ethics Hum Res 2021; 43:18-25. [PMID: 34496156 DOI: 10.1002/eahr.500101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This article provides pragmatic advice for organizations interested in creating a research ethics consultation service (RECS). A robust RECS has the potential to build capacity among investigators to identify and consider the ethical issues they encounter while conducting their research. Determining whether to establish an RECS should begin with an institutional-needs assessment that includes three key questions: What are the current resources available to research teams to navigate ethical concerns that arise from their research? Is there a demand or perceived need for more resources? Is there institutional support (financial and otherwise) to establish and maintain an RECS? If this results in the decision to establish the consultation service, relevant institutional stakeholders must be identified and consulted, and personnel with the requisite skills recruited. The next step is to establish an RECS and build the infrastructure to process and respond to requests. The RECS's long-term sustainability will depend on a stable source of funding and a mechanism to receive constructive feedback to ensure that the service is meeting the institutional needs it set out to address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Taylor
- Research bioethicist in the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health
| | - Kathryn M Porter
- Research scientist at the Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Institute
| | - Erin Talati Paquette
- Assistant professor of pediatrics (critical care) at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and an assistant professor of law (by courtesy) at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
| | - Jennifer B McCormick
- Associate professor in the Department of Humanities in the College of Medicine at the Pennsylvania State University
| | - Emma Tumilty
- Bioethicist and lecturer at the School of Medicine in the Faculty of Health at Deakin University Waurn Ponds, Geelong, Australia
| | - Jason F Arnold
- Senior fellow of bioethics and health policy and the assistant director of the CTR fellowship program at the Institute of Human Values in Health Care at the Medical University of South Carolina
| | - Kayte Spector-Bagdady
- Associate director of the Center for Bioethics & Social Sciences in Medicine and an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School
| | - Marion Danis
- Head of the section on ethics and health policy in the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health
| | - Debra Brandt
- Research assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Iowa
| | - Jina Shah
- Senior director of patient safety and pharmacovigilance at Kite, a Gilead Sciences company, in Santa Monica, CA
| | - Benjamin S Wilfond
- Professor in the divisions of bioethics and palliative care and pulmonary and sleep medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Institute at the University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Lisa M Lee
- Associate vice president for research and innovation, the director of scholarly integrity and research compliance, and a professor of population health sciences at Virginia Tech
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Kane C, Sakaguchi S, Chuma M, Yagi K, Takechi K, Aoe Y, Takagai T, Yanagawa H. Research Ethics Consultation in Nursing Studies. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2021; 17:63-69. [PMID: 34374568 DOI: 10.1177/15562646211036577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite the importance and acceptance of research ethics consultation as an entity in many medical research areas, little is known about its status in nursing research. Focusing on inquiries from nurse researchers, we retrospectively analyzed records of integrated clinical research consultation, provided by members of the Clinical Research Center independently of the research ethics committee, at a Japanese university hospital during 2018-2019. Among various consultations in nursing studies (n = 101), 43 were related to research ethics. The main issues in research ethics consultation were compatibility with guidelines (n = 28; 65%) and application of ethics review (n = 12; 28%). Future studies should investigate international settings and address the relevance of research ethics consultation to promote proper nursing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikako Kane
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sakaguchi
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Masayuki Chuma
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kenta Yagi
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kenshi Takechi
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan.,Present address: Division of Pharmaceutical Information Science, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, Ehime, Japan
| | - Yuki Aoe
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Tomoko Takagai
- Division of Nursing, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Yanagawa
- Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, 163647Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
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Lapid MI, Meagher KM, Giunta HC, Clarke BL, Ouellette Y, Armbrust TL, Sharp RR, Wright RS. Ethical Challenges in COVID-19 Biospecimen Research: Perspectives From Institutional Review Board Members and Bioethicists. Mayo Clin Proc 2021; 96:165-173. [PMID: 33413815 PMCID: PMC7584427 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Biospecimen research is a prominent investigative strategy that aims to provide novel insights into coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), inform clinical trials, and develop effective, life-saving treatments. However, COVID-19 biospecimen research raises accompanying ethical concerns and practical challenges for investigators and participants. In this special article, we discuss the ethical issues that are associated with autonomy, beneficence, and justice in COVID-19 biospecimen research and describe strategies to manage the practical challenges, with an emphasis on protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants during a pandemic response. Appropriate institutional review board oversight and bioethics guidance for COVID-19 biospecimen research must maintain their focus on protecting the rights and welfare of research participants, despite the urgent need for more knowledge about the virus and the threat it poses to communities and nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria I Lapid
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
| | - Karen M Meagher
- Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Hannah C Giunta
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Bart L Clarke
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Yves Ouellette
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Tamyra L Armbrust
- Office for Human Research Protection and Institutional Review Board, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Richard R Sharp
- Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - R Scott Wright
- Office for Human Research Protection and Institutional Review Board, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Abstract
Recent disputes over the NIH Neuroethics Roadmap have revealed underlying tensions between neuroethics and the broader neuroscience community. These controversies should spur neuroethicists to more clearly articulate an oft-cited ideal of "integrating" neuroethics in neuroscience. In this, it is useful to consider the integration of bioethics in medical practice as both historical precedent and context for integration in neuroethics. Bioethics began as interdisciplinary scholars joined biomedical institutions to serve on newly-created IRBs and hospital ethics committees. These early bioethicists identified as outsiders and their presence was initially resisted by some in the medical establishment, but over time they became integrated into the very institutions that many had originally come to critique. This work has transformed medical practice, but also required compromises and intellectual costs. Also, the successful integration of bioethics relied in part on structural features of postwar medicine with no clear analogue in contemporary neuroscience; for neuroethics, imaginative new approaches will also be needed. While neuroethics to date has focused somewhat narrowly on questions in neurotechnology, I argue that successful integration in neuroethics will likely require a broader vision, encompassing the clinical neurosciences as well as questions at the interface of neuroscience and society.
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Falb K, Laird B, Ratnayake R, Rodrigues K, Annan J. The ethical contours of research in crisis settings: five practical considerations for academic institutional review boards and researchers. DISASTERS 2019; 43:711-726. [PMID: 31435967 DOI: 10.1111/disa.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The number of research studies in the humanitarian field is rising. It is imperative, therefore, that institutional review boards (IRBs) consider carefully the additional risks present in crisis contexts to ensure that the highest ethical standards are upheld. Ethical guidelines should represent better the specific issues inherent to research among populations grappling with armed conflict, disasters triggered by natural hazards, or health-related emergencies. This paper seeks to describe five issues particular to humanitarian settings that IRBs should deliberate and on which they should provide recommendations to overcome associated challenges: staged reviews of protocols in acute emergencies; flexible reviews of modification requests; addressing violence and the traumatic experiences of participants; difficulties in attaining meaningful informed consent among populations dependent on aid; and ensuring reviews are knowledgeable of populations' needs. Considering these matters when reviewing protocols will yield more ethically sound research in humanitarian settings and hold researchers accountable to appropriate ethical standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Falb
- ScD is Senior Researcher at the International Rescue Committee, United States
| | - Betsy Laird
- MA is Measurement Advisor at the International Rescue Committee, United States
| | - Ruwan Ratnayake
- MHS is former Senior Epidemiologist at the International Rescue Committee, United States
| | - Katherine Rodrigues
- MPA is Senior Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee, United States
| | - Jeannie Annan
- PhD is Chief Scientist at the International Rescue Committee, United States
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Yanagawa H, Katashima R, Sato C, Takechi K, Nokihara H, Kane C, Chuma M, Aoe Y. Research ethics consultation: an attempt and 5-year experience in a Japanese University Hospital. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:665. [PMID: 30208946 PMCID: PMC6134693 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Research ethics consultation is an advisory activity that differs from ethics committees, and its role is not yet widely known in Japan. Research ethics consultations were started in 2012 by members of the Clinical Trial Center of Tokushima University Hospital, a support section for clinical trials. We analyzed the research ethics consultation records from Tokushima University Hospital during the 5-year period of 2012–2016 to examine the Japanese context of research ethics consultation. Results During the study period, 125 research ethics consultations were carried out, 115 (91%) before starting studies. All but one request were from investigators at Tokushima University. The main issue was compatibility with guidance and regulations (n = 74, 67.2%), such as ethical handling of human biological specimens and information utilized in research; only 6 (4.8%) requests involved research ethics issues that investigators face in their research. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the consultation function, with a nationwide system of consultant education and data sharing. Moreover, standardization of consultation should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Yanagawa
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
| | - Rumi Katashima
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Chiho Sato
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Kenshi Takechi
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nokihara
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Chikako Kane
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Masayuki Chuma
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yuki Aoe
- Clinical Trial Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital, Kuramoto-cho 2, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
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Cho HL, Miller DG, Grady C. Beyond Open Communication: A Call for Partnership Between Clinical Ethics and Research Ethics Committees. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2018; 18:52-54. [PMID: 29313776 PMCID: PMC6010309 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2017.1401171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In proposing strategies to improve access to and quality of research ethics consultation (REC) services, Porter and colleagues (2018) call for “open communication” between REC and clinical ethics consultation (CEC) services. The authors believe this proposal provides a means for addressing ethical issues occurring at the intersection of research and clinical care, as well as an opportunity for REC services to learn from quality improvement strategies of CEC services. We agree with the premises of this suggestion, yet propose that direct partnership, rather than simply open communication, between REC and CEC services can provide further benefits, including protecting patient-subjects, improving the quality of research ethics consultations, and increasing the visibility of REC services.
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Paquette ET, Ross L. The Challenges of Incorporating Research Ethics Consultation Into Institutional Human Subjects Protections Programs. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2018; 18:49-51. [PMID: 29313769 PMCID: PMC6214683 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2017.1401179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lainie Ross
- b University of Chicago and MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics
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Porter KM, Danis M, Taylor HA, Cho MK, Wilfond BS. The Emergence of Clinical Research Ethics Consultation: Insights From a National Collaborative. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2018; 18:39-45. [PMID: 29313771 PMCID: PMC6188703 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2017.1401156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The increasing complexity of human subjects research and its oversight has prompted researchers, as well as institutional review boards (IRBs), to have a forum in which to discuss challenging or novel ethical issues not fully addressed by regulations. Research ethics consultation (REC) services provide such a forum. In this article, we rely on the experiences of a national Research Ethics Consultation Collaborative that collected more than 350 research ethics consultations in a repository and published 18 challenging cases with accompanying ethical commentaries to highlight four contexts in which REC can be a valuable resource. REC assists: 1) investigators before and after the regulatory review; 2) investigators, IRBs, and other research administrators facing challenging and novel ethical issues; 3) IRBs and investigators with the increasing challenges of informed consent and risk/benefit analysis; and 4) in providing flexible and collaborative assistance to overcome study hurdles, mediate conflicts within a team, or directly engage with research participants. Institutions that have established, or plan to establish, REC services should work to raise the visibility of their service and engage in open communication with existing clinical ethics consult services as well as the IRB. While the IRB system remains the foundation for the ethical review of research, REC can be a valuable service for investigators, regulators, and research participants aligned with the goal of supporting ethical research.
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Cole AM, Baldwin LM, Keppel GA, Kuwana E, Mollis BL, Wilfond BS. Conflicts of Interest and Distribution of Resources to Community Partners: An Organizational Ethics Dilemma. Prog Community Health Partnersh 2017; 11:99-106. [PMID: 28603156 DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2017.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conflicts of interest can arise when faculty and staff administer programs that distribute research funds, training opportunities, and other resources across academic and community partners. We describe the ethical concerns encountered by a Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) program in administering its community-focused pilot grant program and how its Research Bioethics Consultation service helped to address them.Ethical Concerns: CTSA program faculty and staff identified ethical concerns in several areas, including appropriateness of including Regional Research Collaborations (RRC) faculty as principal or co-investigators on applications, determining how much help RRC faculty and staff should provide to prospective applicants, and creating a fair and effective application review process. DISCUSSION The CTSA program identified common goals and values for its community-focused pilot grant program, and resolved the conflicts of interest with the new pilot grant policies. This approach could generalize to conflicts of interest that arise in other academic-community partnerships.
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Mamzer MF, Duchange N, Darquy S, Marvanne P, Rambaud C, Marsico G, Cerisey C, Scotté F, Burgun A, Badoual C, Laurent-Puig P, Hervé C. Partnering with patients in translational oncology research: ethical approach. J Transl Med 2017; 15:74. [PMID: 28390420 PMCID: PMC5385033 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1177-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The research program CARPEM (cancer research and personalized medicine) brings together the expertise of researchers and hospital-based oncologists to develop translational research in the context of personalized or “precision” medicine for cancer. There is recognition that patient involvement can help to take into account their needs and priorities in the development of this emerging practice but there is currently no consensus about how this can be achieved. In this study, we developed an empirical ethical research action aiming to improve patient representatives’ involvement in the development of the translational research program together with health professionals. The aim is to promote common understanding and sharing of knowledge between all parties and to establish a long-term partnership integrating patient’s expectations. Methods Two distinct committees were settled in CARPEM: an “Expert Committee”, gathering healthcare and research professionals, and a “Patient Committee”, gathering patients and patient representatives. A multidisciplinary team trained in medical ethics research ensured communication between the two committees as well as analysis of discussions, minutes and outputs from all stakeholders. Results The results highlight the efficiency of the transfer of knowledge between interested parties. Patient representatives and professionals were able to identify new ethical challenges and co-elaborate new procedures to gather information and consent forms for adapting to practices and recommendations developed during the process. Moreover, included patient representatives became full partners and participated in the transfer of knowledge to the public via conferences and publications. Conclusions Empirical ethical research based on a patient-centered approach could help in establishing a fair model for coordination and support actions during cancer research, striking a balance between the regulatory framework, researcher needs and patient expectations. Our approach addresses the concept of translational ethics as a way to handle the main remaining gap between combining care and research activities in the medical pathway and the existing framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-France Mamzer
- Laboratoire d'Ethique Médicale et Médecine Légale EA4569, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France. .,Unité fonctionnelle d'éthique et médecine légale, Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015, Paris, France.
| | - Nathalie Duchange
- Laboratoire d'Ethique Médicale et Médecine Légale EA4569, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Sylviane Darquy
- Laboratoire d'Ethique Médicale et Médecine Légale EA4569, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | | | - Claude Rambaud
- Collectif Interassociatif Sur la Santé (CISS), 75007, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Florian Scotté
- Laboratoire d'Ethique Médicale et Médecine Légale EA4569, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France.,Soins de support, Service de cancérologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Anita Burgun
- Département d'informatique médicale, de biostatistique et de santé publique, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015, Paris, France.,UMR-S 1138, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, 75006, Paris, France.,Faculté de médecine Paris Descartes, Sorbonne universités, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Badoual
- Centre de Ressources biologiques, Service d'anatomo-pathologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Laurent-Puig
- Inserm UMR-S 1147, Université Paris Descartes, 75006, Paris, France.,Service de Biochimie Pharmacogénétique et Oncologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Christian Hervé
- Laboratoire d'Ethique Médicale et Médecine Légale EA4569, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
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Biller-Andorno N, Grimm H, Walker RL. Professionalism and ethics in animal research. Nat Biotechnol 2015; 33:1027-8. [PMID: 26448081 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Herwig Grimm
- Messerli Research Institute.,Veterinary University Vienna, Austria.,Medical University Vienna, Austria.,University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rebecca L Walker
- Veterinary University Vienna, Austria.,Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Sharp RR, Taylor HA, Brinich MA, Boyle MM, Cho M, Coors M, Danis M, Havard M, Magnus D, Wilfond B. Research ethics consultation: ethical and professional practice challenges and recommendations. ACADEMIC MEDICINE : JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES 2015; 90:615-20. [PMID: 25607942 PMCID: PMC4414686 DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000000640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The complexity of biomedical research has increased considerably in the last decade, as has the pace of translational research. This complexity has generated a number of novel ethical issues for clinical investigators, institutional review boards (IRBs), and other oversight committees. In response, many academic medical centers have created formal research ethics consultation (REC) services to help clinical investigators and IRBs navigate ethical issues in biomedical research. Key functions of a REC service include assisting with research design and implementation, providing a forum for deliberative exploration of ethical issues, and supplementing regulatory oversight. As increasing numbers of academic research institutions establish REC services, there is a pressing need for consensus about the primary aims and policies that should guide these activities. Establishing clear expectations about the aims and policies of REC services is important if REC programs are to achieve their full potential. Drawing on the experiences of a Clinical and Translational Science Award Research Ethics Consultation Working Group, this article describes three major ethical and professional practice challenges associated with the provision of REC: (1) managing multiple institutional roles and responsibilities, (2) managing sensitive information, and (3) communicating with consultation requestors about how these issues are managed. The paper also presents several practical strategies for addressing these challenges and enhancing the quality of REC services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Sharp
- R.R. Sharp is director, Biomedical Ethics Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. H.A. Taylor is associate professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and core faculty, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Baltimore, Maryland. M.A. Brinich is editor-in-chief, Lakewood Observer, Lakewood, Ohio. M.M. Boyle is clinical research coordinator, MDS/MPN Group, Transplantation Biology Department, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington. M. Cho is professor, Stanford Department of Pediatrics, and associate director, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University, Stanford, California. M. Coors is associate professor, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado. M. Danis is section head, Ethics and Health Policy, Department of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. M. Havard is a medical student, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio. D. Magnus is professor of medicine and biomedical ethics, professor of pediatrics, and director, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University, Stanford, California. B. Wilfond is director, Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and professor and chief, Division of Bioethics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
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15
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Van Campen LE, Allen AJ, Watson SB, Therasse DG. A Pharmaceutical Bioethics Consultation Service: Six-Year Descriptive Characteristics and Results of a Feedback Survey. AJOB Empir Bioeth 2015; 6:53-62. [PMID: 26740962 PMCID: PMC4688593 DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2014.957363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background: Bioethics consultations are conducted in varied settings, including hospitals, universities, and other research institutions, but there is sparse information about bioethics consultations conducted in corporate settings such as pharmaceutical companies. The purpose of this article is to describe a bioethics consultation service at a pharmaceutical company, to report characteristics of consultations completed by the service over a 6-year period, and to share results of a consultation feedback survey. Methods: Data on the descriptive characteristics of bioethics consultations were collected from 2008 to 2013 and analyzed in Excel 2007. Categorical data were analyzed via the pivot table function, and time-based variables were analyzed via formulas. The feedback survey was administered to consultation requesters from 2009 to 2012 and also analyzed in Excel 2007. Results: Over the 6-year period, 189 bioethics consultations were conducted. The number of consultations increased from five per year in 2008 to approximately one per week in 2013. During this time, the format of the consultation service was changed from a committee-only approach to a tiered approach (tailored to the needs of the case). The five most frequent topics were informed consent, early termination of a clinical trial, benefits and risks, human biological samples, and patient rights. The feedback survey results suggest the consultation service is well regarded overall and viewed as approachable, helpful, and responsive. Conclusions: Pharmaceutical bioethics consultation is a unique category of bioethics consultation that primarily focuses on pharmaceutical research and development but also touches on aspects of clinical ethics, business ethics, and organizational ethics. Results indicate there is a demand for a tiered bioethics consultation service within this pharmaceutical company and that advice was valued. This company's experience indicates that a bioethics consultation service raises awareness about bioethics, empowers employees to raise bioethical concerns, and helps them reason through challenging issues.
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Cho MK, Taylor H, McCormick JB, Anderson N, Barnard D, Boyle MB, Capron AM, Dorfman E, Havard K, Reider C, Sadler J, Schwartz P, Sharp RR, Danis M, Wilfond BS. Building a Central Repository for Research Ethics Consultation Data: A Proposal for a Standard Data Collection Tool. Clin Transl Sci 2015; 8:376-87. [PMID: 25758372 DOI: 10.1111/cts.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical research ethics consultation services have been established across academic health centers over the past decade. This paper presents the results of collaboration within the CTSA consortium to develop a standard approach to the collection of research ethics consultation information to serve as a foundation for quality improvement, education, and research efforts. This approach includes categorizing and documenting descriptive information about the requestor, research project, the ethical question, the consult process, and describing the basic structure for a consult note. This paper also explores challenges in determining how to share some of this information between collaborating institutions related to concerns about confidentially, data quality, and informatics. While there is much still to be learned to improve the process of clinical research ethics consultation, these tools can advance these efforts, which, in turn, can facilitate the ethical conduct of research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly Taylor
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Nick Anderson
- University of California at Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - David Barnard
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Mary B Boyle
- Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - John Sadler
- University of Texas, Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Peter Schwartz
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Marion Danis
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda,, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin S Wilfond
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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