Random trauma-list Journal Club

[Timothy J Coats (SURG) 7728]

> 
> This goes against the World Health Organization's Declaration of Helsinki which requires that informed consent be obtained from all
> participants in human research.
> 
> Gord
> 

Not true.
The best summary of current advice is probably at 
http://www.wma.net/e/policy/17-c_e.html

The relevant quote is:
"In case of legal incompetence, informed consent should be 
obtained from the legal guardian in accordance with national 
legislation. Where physical or mental incapacity makes it 
impossible to obtain informed consent, or when the subject is a 
minor, permission from the responsible relative replaces that of the 
subject in accordance with national legislation."

Sorry Gord, but the world is full of uncertainty rather than rigid rules. 
Those who frame advice about ethics in research take account of 
the fact that in some cases research will be done without the 
patient's consent - or else how will emergency care for trauma, 
medical emergencies, surgical emergencies of psychiatric 
emergencies ever advance?

Tim.

Timothy J Coats MD FRCS FFAEM
Senior Lecturer in Accident and Emergency / Pre-Hospital Care
Royal London Hospital, UK.