IRB Cases
Cases in Research Ethics
Risking oneself for another is noble; being tricked into running such a risk is to be abused. The ethical issues in research on human subjects were at the core of the modern bioethics movement at its beginning and they remain vexed today. They have been at the heart of the work of the Yale Interdisciplinary Bioethics Center at least since our fortunate receipt of support from the Donaghue Foundation in 2004.
One part of our work under that grant has been the development of a series of case studies rooted in the work of hospital IRBs in Connecticut. IRB members drafted case narratives reflecting their experience. These were analyzed and discussed with them and our colleagues. Then we have solicited commentaries. The first results appear in the two cases that follow. We hope that they will be read with profit by IRB members, researchers, and persons otherwise interested in the study of research ethics.
We expect regularly to add to this list of cases and we will eagerly await commentary either on specifics of what the commentators say or on the entire enterprise. Although we have an additional four cases in the pipeline, we would be delighted if someone should want to volunteer a case narrative. We can’t guarantee that we’ll use everything submitted, of course, but the field is rich and we’d certainly like a look. Comments either for consideration for publication or just for our information may be submitted to bioethics.center@yale.edu.
Case 1: Should investigators pay substance abusers to participate in research?
By Angela Ballantyne, Donaghue Visiting Scholar 2007-2008
Comment: On withholding payments until study completion
By David Smith, Director
Case 2: Community IRB members’ religious conflict of interest
Comment: “Community” members and conflict
By Robert J. Levine, Senior Scholar in Research Ethics
Comment: Recusal without “conflict of interest”
By Stephen Latham, Deputy Director
