Status of informed consent in the original articles published in a medical journal of Bangladesh

Informed consent and other ethical issues are included in every guideline of research ethics. Taking informed consent from the participants is essential in human health research. The health researchers are not addressing adequately the issues of informed consent and other relevant issues. In many of the published articles in our country, there is no mention of informed consent and other relevant ethical issues. In this study, a 5-years retrospective review was performed on the original articles that described research involving human subjects, and published in the "Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons" in the period of 1999 to 2003. The objectives of this review were: i) to document whether the author has mentioned about informed consent in the published original article; and ii) to document whether the author has addressed the informed consent procedure in appropriate details. Fifty three original articles were reviewed, only in 7(13.2%) articles the author has mentioned that informed consent was taken from the participants. In 19 (63%) articles, where the subjects were minors or incompetent, there was no mention from whom informed consent was taken. Only in 2(3.7%) articles, the authors have mentioned about the approval of Ethical Review Committee, and in 4(7.5%) articles about the funding agency. Other ethical issues were also ignored. The study documents deficiencies in informed consent and relevant ethical issues in the published articles. This finding demands greater attention to ethical standards on the part of investigators and the editors.     

Postmortem brain donation and organ transplantation in schizophrenia: what about patient consent?

In patients with schizophrenia, consent postmortem for organ donation for transplantation and research is usually obtained from relatives. By means of a questionnaire, the authors investigate whether patients with schizophrenia would agree to family members making such decisions for them as well as compare decisions regarding postmortem organ transplantation and brain donation between patients and significant family members. Study results indicate while most patients would not agree to transplantation or brain donation for research, a proportion would agree. Among patients who declined organ donation for transplantation or brain research, almost half of family members would have agreed to brain donation for research and over 40% to organ transplantation. Male relatives are more likely to agree to organ donation from their deceased relatives for both transplantation and research. The authors argue that it is important to respect autonomy and interests of research subjects even if mentally ill and even if no longer living. Consent may be assisted by appropriate educational interventions prior to patient death.     

Monitoring clinical research: report of one hospital's experience

MONITORING OF RESEARCH BY RESEARCH ETHICS BOARDS HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED by various organizations that fund clinical studies and by other groups. However, little evidence has been reported on the processes, costs and outcomes of these activities, information that would be helpful to guide the boards in their current work and future policies. We report here 3 years of monitoring experience by the research ethics board of a 313-bed university-affiliated community hospital. Activities newly implemented at the beginning of the study period included the use of recruitment logs, audits of completed consent forms and interviews with research subjects. Over the study period, we monitored 33 protocols, through 188 consent form audits and interviews with 17 research subjects. In addition, 26 of 34 research investigators and collaborators responded to a survey about the monitoring. In general, the investigators were supportive of monitoring activities, but most were not willing to contribute financially. The types of monitoring we conducted are feasible and may be suitable (or could be adapted) for use in other institutions.     

Privacy and Confidentiality in the Publication of Pedigrees: A Survey of Investigators and Biomedical Journals

Context.— Pedigree diagrams efficiently communicate family information to genetics investigators; however, the publication of pedigrees poses a risk to the privacy and confidentiality of individuals depicted in the diagrams. Two sets of authoritative guidelines have been published to protect the privacy and confidentiality of subjects, but the influence of these guidelines on publication practices for pedigrees is unknown. Objective.— To determine the attitudes, practices, and experiences of investigators and journals with respect to privacy and confidentiality concerns in the publication of pedigrees. Design.— Investigators who have published pedigrees and editors of 26 biomedical journals were surveyed. Journals were reviewed for content in their "information for authors" sections and for documentation of informed consent in articles containing pedigrees. Outcome Measures.— Practices regarding confidentiality and privacy reported by investigators and editors. Results.— Of 226 surveys sent to investigators, 177 were returned (78% response rate). Sixty-one investigators (36%) stated that family members were not informed that their pedigree would be published; 131 (78%) do not obtain informed consent specifically for pedigree publication and only 12 (28%) of the 43 who obtained consent obtained consent from all family members depicted. Thirty-two individuals (19%) reported having altered published pedigrees and 14 (45%) of 31 who had altered pedigrees stated that alterations were not disclosed to journals. Of the 14 journals that responded (54% response rate), only 3 reported written policies for managing potentially identifying information. Two journals reported having asked authors to alter pedigrees and 3 stated they had permitted alterations. A review of 5 genetics journals over a 2-year period revealed no documentation of consent for pedigree publication. Conclusions.— Current practices in the publication of pedigrees do not conform with established recommendations and risk the privacy and confidentiality of subjects, often without informed consent. Attempts to address this problem through the alteration of data are being used, although this practice impairs the integrity of scientific communication.      

A Mitochondrial DNA A8701G Mutation Associated with Maternally Inherited Hypertension and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Chinese Pedigree of a Consanguineous Marriage

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertension, are the leading cause of death worldwide. The role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the pathogenesis of these diseases has not been completely clarified. In this study, we evaluate whether A8701G mutation is associated with maternally inherited hypertension and DCM in a Chinese pedigree of a consanguineous marriage.

Methods:

Fourteen subjects in a three-generation Han Chinese family with hypertension and DCM, in which consanguineous marriage was present in the parental generation, were interviewed. We divided all the family members into case (7 maternal members) and control group (7 nonmaternal members) for comparison. Clinical evaluations and sequence analysis of mtDNA were obtained from all participants. Frequency differences between maternal and nonmaternal members were tested to locate the disease-associated mutations.

Results:

The majority of the family members presented with a maternal inheritance of hypertension and DCM. Sequence analysis of mtDNA in this pedigree identified eight mtDNA mutations. Among the mutations identified, there was only one significant mutation: A8701G (P = 0.005), which is a homoplasmic mitochondrial missense mutation in all the matrilineal relatives. There was no clear evidence for any synergistic effects between A8701G and other mutations.

Conclusions:

A8701G mutation may act as an inherited risk factor for the matrilineal transmission of hypertension and DCM in conjunction with genetic disorders caused by consanguineous marriage.     

知情同意书实施现状及存在问题分析

对某市6家综合医院的650名医患双方进行问卷调查,有84.1%的患者和71.3%的患者家属曾经签署过知情同意书。对医患双方知情同意书的认知情况进行调查,通过8个问题的正确率统计,医方和患方的平均正确率分别为80.1%和65.0%,医患双方对知情同意书的理解还存在一些误区。结合临床实践中知情同意书存在的问题,提出严格书写规范,提高填写质量;结合医院实际修订,完善知情同意书的内容;提高医患双方认知水平,充分发挥其权益保障作用等建议。     

制约患者自主知情同意的因素研究

目的 了解医患双方对家属代理同意的认识与态度、探究制约患者自主知情同意的因素.方法 随机选取96名临床医师、230名住院患者及其家属,采用自制问卷进行调查.结果 患者对家属代理同意的态度受其自身年龄、经济状况、医疗保障、生活自理能力和学历的影响;家属倾向于向年老、低收入、生活不能自理的患者隐瞒病情;除法律规定外,避免与家属产生纠纷是医生更注重与家属沟通的主要目的.结论 法律制度、家属对知情同意作用的认识及患者自身的年龄、经济状况、自理能力是影响患者自主知情同意的主要因素.     

“Because you're worth it?” The taking and selling of transplantable organs

In the UK, the legal processes underpinning the procurement system for cadaveric organs for transplantation and research after death are under review. The review originated after media reports of hospitals, such as Alder Hey and Bristol, retaining organs after death without the full, informed consent of relatives. The organ procurement systems for research and transplantation are separate and distinct, but given that legal change will be applicable to both, some have argued now is the time to introduce alternative organ transplant procurement systems such as presumed consent or incentive based schemes (despite inconclusive British and American research on the status of public attitudes). Findings are reported in this paper from qualitative and quantitative research undertaken in Scotland in order to ascertain the public acceptability of different procurement systems. Nineteen in depth interviews carried out with donor families about their experiences of donating the organs of the deceased covered their views of organ retention, presumed consent, and financial incentives. This led onto a representative interview survey of 1009 members of the Scottish public. The originality of the triangulated qualitative and quantitative study offers exploration of alternative organ procurement systems from different "sides of the fence". The findings suggest that the legal changes taking place are appropriate in clarifying the role of the family but can go further in strengthening the choice of the individual to donate.     

常染色体显性遗传性听神经病家系全外显子组测序分析

目的：在多年围绕1个常染色体显性遗传性非综合征型听神经病家系开展系统分子遗传学研究的基础上,进一步探讨该家系耳聋的致病机制,以期发现新的听神经病致病基因和突变位点。方法：对3例耳聋患者和1例配偶进行全外显子组测序,初步筛选出与家系耳聋相关的候选致病基因。采用PCR-Sanger测序法,检测上述候选基因变异是否与家系表型共分离。最后,以50例与研究家系无关的听力正常人为对照,检测候选致病突变在正常群体中的突变频率和SNPs遗传多态性。结果：全外显子测序分析得到41个候选致病基因突变;用PCR-Sanger测序法对核心家系的9名成员和2名家系外听力正常人进行验证,仅发现1个基因突变（ALOX15B 7942797 C>T）与家系耳聋表型共分离。选取50例家系外正常对照的DNA样本对ALOX15B基因进行PCR扩增和序列分析,结果显示有2例听力正常人也检测到该基因的同一变异,提示该变异为SNPs遗传多态性。结论：对核心家系成员的全外显子组测序分析和Sanger测序法验证未发现有意义的突变位点,排除了该家系耳聋由基因编码区突变及Indels致病的可能性。     

Informed consent in emergency research. Prehospital thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Can the conscious patient in the midst of a medical emergency provide adequate informed consent for a clinical research protocol? Adequate consent is crucial to the ethical conduct of clinical trials, including those performed in emergency settings. We examine the problem of emergency informed consent. As an illustrative case, we discuss a pilot trial of prehospital thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction. Federal regulations for clinical research do not provide clear guidelines on emergency research in the conscious patient. Clinical investigators currently approach emergency consent in four ways: (1) avoid such research, (2) omit the consent process, (3) obtain deferred consent, or (4) obtain customary consent. We suggest a fifth alternative, two-step consent, which permits the conduct of emergency research while protecting the rights of the emergency research subjects. Such a process may serve as an alternative solution for future studies faced with the problem of informed consent in emergencies.     

Informed consent for population-based research involving genetics.

Bridging the gap between gene discovery and our ability to use genetic information to benefit health requires population-based knowledge about the contribution of common gene variants and gene-environment interactions to the risk of disease. The risks and benefits associated with population-based research involving genetics, especially lower-penetrance gene variants, can differ in nature from those associated with family-based research. In response to the urgent need for appropriate guidelines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formed a multidisciplinary group to develop an informed consent approach for integrating genetic variation into population-based research. The group used expert opinion and federal regulations, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission's report on research involving human biological materials, existing consent forms, and literature on informed consent to create suggested language for informed consent documents and a supplemental brochure. This language reflects the premise that the probability and magnitude of harm, as well as possible personal benefits, are directly related to the meaning of the results for the health of the participant and that appropriate disclosures and processes for obtaining consent should be based on an assessment at the outset of the likelihood that the results will generate information that could lead directly to an evidence-based intervention. This informed consent approach is proposed to promote discussion about how best to enable potential participants to make informed decisions about population-based research involving genetics and to suggest issues for consideration by research sponsors, institutional review boards, and investigators.     

医院知情同意权行使主体的伦理现状调查

目的了解医院医务人员、患者及其家属对医院知情同意权行使主体的伦理认知现状并进行分析。方法对医生、患者、家属采用自行设计的问卷进行调查,其中对126位医生进行问卷调查方式;对150名患者、148名家属采用问卷访谈形式进行访谈。结果在法律认知上,仅56%的医务人员,20%的患者,8.8%的患者家属完全同意知情同意权行使主体是其本人;在伦理认知上,以患者本人为知情同意权的行使主体,86.5%的医务人员,54%的患者,45.3%的患者家属认为能尊重患者;55.5%的医务人员,82.7%的患者,48%的患者家属认为能对患者有利;84.9%的医务人员,34.7%的患者,14.9%的患者家属认为要贯彻患者的自主选择权。结论在中国传统文化背景下,知情同意权行使主体的法律规定与伦理认知存在巨大差异,为医院医疗纠纷留下隐患;医务人员作为知情同意的告知者,要在有关法规指导下,掌握好告知权限,以适用当前伦理认知现状。     

Enhancing informed consent best practices: gaining patient, family and provider perspectives using reverse simulation

Background Obtaining informed consent in the clinical setting is an important yet challenging aspect of providing safe and collaborative care to patients. While the medical profession has defined best practices for obtaining informed consent, it is unclear whether these standards meet the expressed needs of patients, their families as well as healthcare providers. The authors sought to address this gap by comparing the responses of these three groups with a standardised informed consent paradigm. Methods Piloting a web-based 'reverse' simulation paradigm, participants viewed a video showing a standardised doctor engaging in an informed consent discussion. The scenario depicted a simulated patient with psychotic symptoms who is prescribed an atypical antipsychotic medication. 107 participants accessed the simulation online and completed a web-based debriefing survey. Results Survey responses from patients, family members and healthcare providers indicated disparities in information retention, perception of the doctor's performance and priorities for required elements of the consent process. Conclusions To enhance existing informed consent best practices, steps should be taken to improve patient retention of critical information. Adverse events should be described in the short-term and long-term along with preventative measures, and alternative psychosocial and pharmacological treatment options should be reviewed. Information about treatment should include when the medication takes therapeutic effect and how to safely maintain the treatment. The reverse simulation design is a model that can discern gaps in clinical practice, which can be used to improve patient care.     

Ethics, human rights and HIV vaccine trials in low-income settings

The massive growth in global health research in past decades has posed many challenges for its effective ethical oversight, not least of which is how best to provide effective protection of research participants. The extent of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa in particular makes research into prevention technologies for HIV, including HIV vaccine research, a global priority. However, the need for vaccine research must be considered in conjunction with the individual's right to informed consent, which is based on the principle of respect for autonomy. One of the primary human rights violations likely to occur in the context of HIV vaccine research is that potential research participants may not fully understand what participation in research studies entails. People who elect to enrol in HIV vaccine trials are required to understand both the potential negative effects of participation (eg, discrimination) as well as complex scientific concepts such as randomisation and prophylaxis in order to be ethically enrolled. In this study, two vignettes are presented to illustrate two core issues in conducting phase III HIV vaccine trials in low-income countries-namely, (1) from the perspective of participants, the extent to which understanding is a prerequisite for consenting to participate in a trial, and (2) from the perspective of trial investigators, whether it is appropriate to persuade eligible people to enrol in a trial, even though their initial reaction is to decline to participate. These vignettes are used to analyse these issues through the prisms of research ethics and human rights in order to identify helpful synergies. It is argued that the human rights perspective provides a helpful lens on ethical issues.     

Abortion decisions as inclusion and exclusion criteria in research involving pregnant women and fetuses

From the perspective of investigators conducting research involving pregnant women and fetuses, a woman's decision about whether to have an abortion can sometimes be relevant to the suitability of the woman and fetus as research subjects. However, prominent ethicists disagree over whether it is permissible for a woman's decision about abortion to be an inclusion or exclusion criterion for participation in research. A widely held view is that fetuses to be aborted and fetuses to be carried to term should be treated equally as research subjects. Some hold that this principle implies that a woman's decision about whether to have an abortion should not be an inclusion or exclusion criterion. This paper identifies types of research in which investigators might want to have inclusion or exclusion criteria based on decisions about abortion. It examines the arguments for and against having the woman's decision about abortion included in such criteria. It is argued that there are types of research in which such criteria are ethically permissible.     

高度近视汉族家系的基因位点筛查

【目的】对汉族原发性高度近视家系进行全基因组扫描及遗传连锁分析,筛选鉴定新致病基因位点和／或新致病基因,以确认原发性高度近视新的致病位点及基因。【方法】收集汉族原发性高度近视家系,选取382个微卫星标记物对家系进行全基因组扫描,采用二点连锁分析,对高度近视家系进行已知基因位点的筛查和寻找新的遗传连锁位点。【结果】排除了所有的高度近视已知基因位点,完成了家系的全基因组扫描,发现了1个阳性位点,进一步连锁分析排除了该阳性位点。【结论】本研究未找到高度近视新的基因连锁位点,该家系部分成员的发病可能与后天因素有关,应增加新的标记物继续对其进行遗传连锁分析,以找到新的连锁位点。     

一个单纯性下颌前突家系的遗传研究

目的对一个中国汉族单纯性下颌前突家系进行遗传研究,为找到其致病机制奠定基础。方法先对这一单纯性下颌前突家系的遗传模式进行判断,再根据侯选区域法,对1p36、6q25、19p13．2、1p22．1、3q26．2、11q22、12q13．13、12q23区域利用微卫星位点进行基因分型,并用Linkage和Genehunter等软件对基因分型的结果进行参数和非参数连锁分析,分析此次实验家系的下颌前突致病基因是否存在于这些侯选区域。结果此家系共21人,有11例患者,其中10例是直系家属,5例男性患者,5例女性患者。该家系在1p36,6q25,19p13．2,1p22．1,3q26．2,12q13．13,12q23区域分析结果LOD值均小于0。而在11q22区域,微卫星位点D1IS1886与D11S4206之间（遗传距离为3．1cm）,LOD值分别为0．59和0．63,NPL值分别为1．18、1．19。结论该汉族单纯性下颌前突家系为单基因遗传。最有可能的遗传模式为常染色体显性或不完全外显性遗传。中国汉族可能存在其他未报道过的基因位点,拟下一步做全基因组扫描确认。     

Rating authors' contributions to collaborative research: the PICNIC survey of university departments of pediatrics. Pediatric Investigators' Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To determine how department chairs in pediatrics rate involvement in medical research and to determine whether faculty deans' offices have written criteria for evaluating research activity when assessing candidates for promotion or tenure. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mailed survey and telephone survey. SETTING: Canadian faculties of medicine. PARTICIPANTS: Chairs of the 16 Canadian university departments of pediatrics and deans' offices of the 16 university medical faculties. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Weight assigned by department chairs to contributions to published research according to author's research role and position in list of authors and the method of listing authors. RESULTS: Fifteen of 16 chairs responded. Twelve submitted a completed survey, two described their institutions' policies and one responded that the institution had no policy. Eleven reported that faculty members were permitted or requested to indicate research roles on curricula vitae. There was a consensus that all or principal investigators should be listed as authors and that citing the research group as collective author was insufficient. The contribution of first authors was rated highest for articles in which all or principal investigators were listed. The contribution of joint-principal investigators listed as first author was also given a high rating. In the case of collective authorship, the greatest contribution was credited to the principal investigator of the group. Participation of primary investigators in multicentre research was rated as having higher value than participation in single-centre research by seven respondents and as having equal value by four. Only one dean's office had explicit written criteria for evaluating authorship. CONCLUSIONS: Most departments of pediatrics and medical faculty dean's offices in Canadian universities have no criteria for assessing the type of contribution made to published research. In view of the trend to use multicentre settings for clinical trials, guidelines for weighting investigators' contributions are needed.