Twenty years of human research ethics committees in the Baltic States.
Two decades have passed since the first attempts were made to establish systematic ethical review of human research in the Baltic States. Legally and institutionally much has changed. In this paper we provide an historical and structural overview of ethical review of human research and identify some problems related to the role of ethical review in establishing quality research environment in these countries. Problems connected to (a) public availability of information, (b) management of conflicts of interest, (c) REC composition and motivation of REC members, and (d) differing levels of stringency of ethical review for different types of studies, are identified. Recommendations are made to strengthen cooperation among the Baltic RECs.
Department of Medical History and Ethics, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio St. 21/27, Vilnius, Lithuania. vilius.dranseika@fsf.vu.lt
Vilius
V
Dranseika
Eugenijus
E
Gefenas
Asta
A
Cekanauskaite
Kristina
K
Hug
Signe
S
Mezinska
Eimantas
E
Peicius
Vents
V
Silis
Andres
A
Soosaar
Martin
M
Strosberg
D001454:Baltic States; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000941:ethics*; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000639:trends*; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination