Medical Ethics Advisor
RSSArticles
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IRBs Use Inconsistent Processes for Informed Consent with Non-English Speakers
Translations, interpretation services, and other necessary accommodations for non-English speakers need to be built into study budgets
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To Eliminate Race-Based Disparities, Start by Asking Questions
"If not the bioethicist, who else in the hospital system is going to be responsible for checking to make sure that systemic racism isn’t occurring within the hospital?"
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IRBs Facing Ethically Controversial Questions on Brain Research
The field of brain research sounds a lot like science fiction, but human neural organoids, human neural transplants, and human-animal chimeras all are imminent realities. IRBs are going to be facing some difficult decisions on whether this research can proceed. The authors of a recent report examined these issues.
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Interdisciplinary Teams Collaborate on Disaster Research
Social scientists provide invaluable data for disaster and hazard research as they study human predictability, risk, and the consequences of such events. However, social scientists are not the only ones researching natural or man-made disasters. Disaster research also can include teams of engineers, urban planners, risk analysts, and public health administrators. -
Observational Study Highlights Differences in IRB Start-Up Times
There appears to be a significant difference in start-up times for large cardiovascular trials in North America, highlighting changes needed for trials to become more efficient and feasible. -
Framework for Developing Health Research Ethics Competencies
Researchers were surprised that despite ongoing efforts to develop research ethics programs over many years in the United States and internationally, there was no published competency framework to follow, nor was there a standard approach to creating competencies in this context. This, despite the fact competencies have been used for education in business, medicine, and elsewhere for decades. -
Informed Consent, Payment Are Ethical Concerns with Egg Donation
A survey of current and former egg donors revealed some possible gaps when it comes to communicating potential long-term risks. -
The Evolving Ethics of Researching Illegal Substances
Interest in clinical research on cannabis and psilocybin is soaring. However, current barriers to studying these controlled substances raise ethical questions. -
Clinical Research as an Equalizer
Differences in outcomes and responses to treatment in diverse populations often have been attributed to biological factors. However, standardized treatment can tell a divergent story, one in which parameters, such as geographic location and financial status, play a significant role in how a person responds. This underscores the importance of a diverse study population in clinical trials, researchers say. -
Prepare for an Unexpected PI Transition
Contemplating death can be uncomfortable, but by planning ahead, researchers can find peace in knowing their life’s work continues beyond their physical presence.