UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
HUMAN SUBJECTS DIVISION
ELEMENTS OF CONSENT
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS:
- that the study involves research; an explanation of
the purposes of the research and the expected
duration of the subject's participation;
a description of the procedures
to be followed; and identification of any procedures which are
experimental.
- any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomfort to the
subject.
- any benefits to the subject or to others which may
reasonably be expected from the research.
- appropriate alternative procedures or courses of
treatment that might be advantageous to the subject.
- the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of records
identifying the subjects will be maintained.
- for research involving more than minimal risk, whether any
compensation and/or medical treatments are
available if injury occurs and, if so, what they consist of or where
further information may be obtained.
- whom to contact for answers to pertinent questions about the
research and research subjects' rights, and
whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury
to the subject.
- that participation is voluntary, that refusal to
participate or withdrawing from participation will involve
no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise
entitled.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON REQUIREMENTS
- University of Washington heading.
- name, position, department, and telephone number of the
investigator(s).
- costs the subject may ultimately be forced to bear.
- reimbursement of costs or other inducements the subject
will receive.
- that the researcher has explained the study to the subject.
- that the subject has had an opportunity to ask questions
before consenting.
- signature and date lines to be completed by the
investigator, the subject, and, when appropriate, the guardian or
subject-advocate.
SPECIAL ELEMENTS FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
- that the particular treatment or procedure may involve
unforeseeable risks to the subject (or to the embryo
or fetus, if the subject is, or may become, pregnant).
- anticipated circumstances under which the subject's
participation may be terminated by the investigator
without regard to the subject's consent.
- the consequences of a subject's decision to withdraw
from the research, and procedures for orderly termination of participation
by the subject.
- that significant new findings developed during the course
of the research which may relate to the subject's willingness
to continue participation will be provided to the subject.
- the approximate number of subjects involved in the study.
- for Questionnaires, Scales, Inventories, and Interviews:
the nature of the questions to be asked, including the
most personal and sensitive questions; that the subject may
refuse to answer any question; estimate of the length of
time needed to complete the activity.
- for Recordings, Photographs, Videotapes, Audiotapes of the
Subject: what recordings will be made;
how long the recordings will be retained before
being destroyed and how confidentiality
will be maintained
; how the recordings will be used outside the
research group and that the subjects will be provided an
opportunity to delete portions of the recordings
they consider personally damaging.
- for Medical Records: what data will be drawn
from the records.
- for Data on Illegal or Socially Sensitive Activities:
how the confidentiality of the
data will be maintained
and how immune the data are from subpoena.
- for Drug, Alcohol, and Investigational Device Studies:
name of the drug/device, dosage,
how administered, frequency,
for what duration, possible side effects,
cautionary statements on concurrent use of other drugs/alcohol
; that subjects might receive placebo;
that, as with any drug (or device), there may be unanticipated
adverse effects; for action to be taken in
the event of an adverse effect; a 24-hour emergency telephone
number for subjects to call in the event of an adverse effect;
cautionary statements about the operation of machinery or motor
vehicles; that a drug company will have access
to the study data or to subjects' personal medical records; the
phase of testing; whether the number of
subjects is limited, and that the FDA has allowed use of
the drug or device for research; whether the drug or device will be
available at the conclusion of the study for the
subject if it is found to be effective for the subject;
that the FDA may inspect the records of the research.
- for Studies Involving Radiation: an estimate of
the hazard in terms readily understandable to the layman,
e.g., a multiple of the background radiation to which people are
exposed in one year, or as comparable to the exposure allowed
radiation workers in one year.
- for Studies Involving Electrical Equipment: any special
risks that may be associated with the equipment; what equipment
will be used and how it will be used in the research.
- for Studies Involving the Bureau of Prisons: that participation
in the research project will have no effect on the
inmate-participant's release date or parole eligibility;
the purpose of each procedure.
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