my uber sexy weekend: the adventures of applying for ethical approval

I cannot believe just how productive I've been this weekend, making major progress with both my Surgical case write-up AND my summer research project ethics application -- a real achievement; utter satisfaction.

A lot of supervisors do the ethics applications themselves (or it has already been done!) for summer research students, but right from the get-go my supervisor has been focusing on my learning as much as possible regarding setting up and carrying out a clinical research study, which has been awesome for me.

Just with this kazillion page ethics application alone I've learnt heaps already! LoL Most important of which is not to be intimidated by a kazillion page application "form" cos most of the questions probably aren't applicable.

While I fully acknowledge and appreciate the need and the importance of an ethics committee (having a sideline interest in bioethics and the like), the whole concept of a group of people deeming a project as "ethical" verses "unethical" remains not laughable per se, but "chuckle-able." What I mean is, as per the argument of many of my classmates who adamantly voice their opinion of against the need for such a process, you'd think most of it was common sense. LoL


From the Guidelines for the National Ethical Application Form:

" In the context of research, the ethical issue of payment (in money or kind) or reward for carrying out the project – including any payment (in money or kind) or reward for recruiting participants – is generally reviewed under three main categories:
i) payment (in money or kind) or reward received by research investigators, host departments, or host institutions;
ii) payment (in money or kind) or reward received by participants recruited into studies; or
iii) payment (in money or kind) or reward received by individuals/organisations who recruit participants into studies but who are not involved in the research as research investigators.

Note:
- that (i) raises ethical concerns that require closer scrutiny by an accredited ethics committee;
- that (ii) raises issues requiring review by an accredited ethics committee into whether or not any payment (in money or kind) or reward, or benefit of any sort, offered to any participant constitutes undue inducement; and
- that (iii) raises concerns that are generally considered unethical."


But like I said, the process remains undeniably important. Just look back at the history of medical experimentation! Plus, those classmates highlighted above probably (a.) will never do research, ever, and/or (b.) are more likely to potentially make the headlines, if you get what I mean.