Institutional review boards: A flawed system of risk management:

Research Ethics

Simon NWhitney¹ 

关键词: ethical review;    ethics committees;    government regulation;    human experimentation;    legislation;    jurisprudence;    research;   

DOI  :  10.1177/1747016116649993

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and their federal overseers protect human subjects, but this vital work is often dysfunctional despite their conscientious efforts. A cardinal, but unrecognized, explanation is that IRBs are performing a specific function – the management of risk – using a flawed theoretical and practical approach. At the time of the IRB system’s creation, risk management theory emphasized the suppression of risk. Since then, scholars of governance, studying the experience of business and government, have learned that we must distinguish pure from opportunity risks. Pure risks should be suppressed. Some opportunity risks, in contrast, must be accepted if the institution is to meet its goals. Contemporary theory shows how institutions may make these decisions wisely. It also shows how a sound organizational understanding of risk, a proper locus of responsibility, and appropriate institutional oversight all contribute to effective risk management. We can apply this general theory, develope...

【 授权许可】

CC BY