Ethics committees typically review clinical research studies
at various stages of development, including the design and protocol, informed
consent process, and ongoing conduct of the study. They may also review
requests for waivers or modifications of informed consent and changes to the
study protocol.
Ethics committees are typically composed of a diverse group
of individuals with expertise in a variety of fields, including medicine,
nursing, law, ethics, and patient advocacy. Members of an ethics committee are
required to be objective and independent, and must disclose any potential
conflicts of interest.
The main responsibilities of an ethics committee include:
- Reviewing
and approving clinical research studies to ensure that they are ethically
and scientifically sound, and that the rights and welfare of study
subjects are protected.
- Monitoring
the conduct of clinical research studies to ensure that they are being
conducted in accordance with the approved protocol and relevant laws and
regulations.
- Providing
guidance to researchers on ethical issues related to clinical research.
- Reviewing
and approving requests for waivers or modifications of informed consent.
- Reviewing
and approving changes to the study protocol.
- Providing
ongoing education and training to researchers on ethical issues in
clinical research.
Ethics committees play a vital role in protecting the rights
and welfare of study subjects and ensuring the integrity of clinical research.
They help to ensure that clinical research is conducted in an ethical and
responsible manner, and contribute to the development of new treatments and
therapies that can improve the lives of patients around the world.