title: Research ethics committees--time for change?
abstract: Research ethics committees have developed over the last 30 years in the UK. As their roles and responsibilities have grown, so too has the complexity of their work. This poses increasing problems which cannot be solved within the current structure. This article suggests that the present large number of volunteer committees be replaced by a much smaller number of fully professional bodies in order to increase speed, efficiency and consistency of working.
authors.affiliation: Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, Gwent.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D026724:Ethical Review; D017041:Ethics Committees; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research; D006113:United Kingdom