TAG ARCHIVES FOR Question of the Month

17
May2019

In collaboration with First Clinical Research, we bring you the Clinical Research Ethics Question of the Month: You are a member of an IRB reviewing a study of a marketed drug for treating depression. Previous studies of this drug have shown minimal side effects. They have also shown a very high, enduring placebo effect. In fact, the symptoms of most study participants improved, regardless of whether they received the study drug or the placebo. This study has a twist: The goal is not to assess the efficacy of the drug, but to assess the efficacy of participating in a study of the drug. In other words, the study itself is the treatment under investigation. Read more

25
Jan2019

You are the chairperson of a central IRB. You have learned that one of the sites in a study you oversee is achieving subject recruiting and retention rates far superior to that of other sites. An investigation has found nothing unethical or unusual about the site’s activities — the subjects just find the investigator’s personality irresistible. Read more

7
Dec2018

Scientists have created entities using artificial intelligence technology. These “betas” appear to have human-like intelligence and emotions so they could, for example, serve as companions for people who are lonely. The scientists want to conduct psychological experiments on them to improve their performance and reliability. While betas are not protected by human subjects protection regulations, the scientists have asked your institutional review board to review the ethics of the experiments anyway. Read more