title: [No prior informed consent required for 'no-risk' scientific research].
abstract: Recent research has shown that prior informed consent not only leads to a lower response but also distorts the results of the study. The concern about the protection of the individual may not be given preference over the importance of participation in a study, in particular for those studies that carry a very limited or non-existent risk or that are not burdensome to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd Klinische Epidemiologie, Leiden. j.p.vandenbroucke@lumc.nl
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vandenbroucke
mesh_terms: D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D009426:Netherlands; D012106:Research; D012307:Risk Factors