title: A relational ethical dialogue with research ethics committees.
abstract: The aim of this article is to take relational ethics concepts and apply them to the context of application to research ethics committees for approval to carry out research. The process of a multinational qualitative research application is described. The article suggests that a relational ethics approach can address two issues: how qualitative proposals are interpreted by research ethics committees and how this safeguards potentially vulnerable respondents. In relational terms, the governance of a research project may be enhanced by shared ownership and willingness to engage in mutual dialogue. This challenges both researchers and research ethics committees to reframe their understanding of roles and functions in the assessment of research protocols, particularly those of a qualitative nature and those that address end-of-life issues.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Republic of Ireland. philip.larkin@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Bernadette Dierckx
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: de Casterlé
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schotsmans
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005060:Europe; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D013850:Thinking; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology