Research ethics committees: the role of ethics in a regulatory authority.
This paper is an examination of how research ethics committees have evolved from being advisory committees to more formal regulatory authorities. It is argued that the role of ethics committees should be broader than simple ethical review. Inconsistency in outcome should not be taken to signal failure. Procedural fairness is of the utmost importance. Nor should ethics committees be seen to diminish the ethical responsibilities of researchers themselves.
McGuinness
S
S
Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. sheelagh.mcguinness@manchester.ac.uk