title: Decision-making capacity and disaster research.
abstract: The extent to which victims of a disaster are able to make capacitated and voluntary decisions to enroll in research is an important and virtually unexplored question. Although there are no compelling data to suggest that experiencing a severe trauma, in and of itself, renders all or even most individuals incapable of making autonomous decisions, the assessment of decision-making capacity (DMC) for research participation warrants serious consideration. This paper provides a framework for and procedural approach to the assessment of DMC in research with individuals exposed to disaster. Particular attention is paid to the implementation of additional safeguards to protect subjects who are vulnerable by virtue of impaired DMC. Recommendations are offered to clinical investigators, ethical review boards, and policymakers with regard to the design, review, and conduct of research in the aftermath of disaster.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Building 10, Room 3N 242, 10 Center Drive MSC 1277, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1277, USA. donaldrosenstein@nih.gov
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rosenstein
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004190:Disasters; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D010358:Patient Participation; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*