Describe with detail what informed consent is and explain th

Describe with detail what informed consent is and explain the ethical principles behind it.

Solution

What is Informed Consent?

Informed consent means the knowing consent of an individual without undue inducement or any element of force, fraud, duress or any other form of constraint or coercion. Sufficient information must be presented (in understandable language) so that the potential subject can make an informed judgment about participation. This information can take on a variety of shapes. It can be provided to the potential participant as: a document which may or may not require a signature; a script which is read to the participant prior to proceeding with a telephone survey; a paragraph to be read prior to completing an online survey.

Research involving human subjects can pose complex ethical issues which require careful thought and consideration on the part of both researchers and research participants. Prospective participants should always be given adequate information on both the possible risks and the potential benefits of their involvement to allow them to make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in the research.

Ethical issues and Justice

The ethical considerations of risks versus benefits raise the question of justice. Who should bear the risk of a study? Who is equal and who is not? Who should receive the benefits of the study?

The concept of justice may be questioned when we attempt to decide who will be given an opportunity to participate and who (and for what reason) will be excluded. Are some classes or persons being selected simply because of their availability, their compromised position, or their manipulability while others are not?

Keep the following tips in mind when selecting prospective participants:

For example:

Justice is a difficult and complex ethical issue. However, attempt at all times in your study to distribute the risks and benefits fairly and without bias.