Acad Med. 2012 May 22. [Epub ahead of print]
How Closely Do Institutional Review Boards Follow the Common Rule?
Source
Dr. Lidz is professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Appelbaum is professor, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York. Dr. Arnold is professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Candilis is associate professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Gardner is professor, Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, and professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ms. Myers is research project director, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. Ms. Simon is data analyst, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
To determine how closely institutional review board (IRB) discussions reflect the ethical criteria specified in the Common Rule federal regulations.
METHOD:
Between November 2006 and July 2009, the authors observed, audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded protocol reviews from 20 IRB meetings at 10 leading academic medical centers. They also reviewed each of the applications discussed to identify the Common Rule criteria-(1) risk minimization, (2) risk/benefit comparison, (3) equitable subject selection, (4) informed consent, (5) data monitoring to ensure safety, (6) privacy protection and confidentiality, and (7) protection of vulnerable subjects-that were both relevant to the study and not adequately addressed in the application. They then determined if the IRB addressed each of the relevant and not-discussed Common Rule criteria in their discussions.
RESULTS:
IRBs made no mention of many of the Common Rule criteria that required their discussion-In 17/82 (21%) reviews, they failed to address risk minimization; in 52/91 (57%), risk/benefit comparison; in 31/52 (60%), equitable subject selection; in 32/59 (54%), data monitoring; in 13/52 (25%), privacy and confidentiality; and in 7/55 (13%), protection of vulnerable populations. However, they discussed informed consent in 102/104 (98%) reviews and raised questions about, or requested changes about, informed consent for 92/104 (88%) protocols.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that essential elements of human subjects protection are not implemented uniformly across IRBs. Although not directly addressing this issue, the current proposed changes to the Common Rule offer an opportunity to improve, in general, the effectiveness of IRBs to protect human subjects.
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