IRB And REB Ethics

From intentional unconsented infection of syphilis resulting in death to the rejection of a three-year long study due to a minor discrepancy; where is the line drawn between ethical and unethical conduct? Both the IRB (Institutional Review Boards) and REB (Research Ethics Boards) have done well to establish a set of common guidelines when it comes to conducting research; however, these agencies hold a surplus of power and lack a sense of researcher to agency equality within the system’s process. While these two agencies have established a strong ethical foundation in the pursuit of knowledge, changes need to be made to make these systems more viable for researchers. The Belmont Report of 1979 set forth a movement of foundational ethics in regard to research, and established three strong ethic principals. The IRB and REB both expanded upon these ideas: respect for the …show more content…
Jin Li, an associate professor of Brown University, had her three-year long research rejected do to a minor justifiable variation of pay among her subjects and was unable to appeal the IRB’s decision. This is where the issue lies. In this case we see the imbalance of power surface within the agency. In a system, the ability to appeal a decision, allowing both parties to hold power, is crucial in maintaining the idea of equality. Additionally, in coming to a decision it is essential that the board maintain an unbiased and objective view of a proposal in correspondence to the law. Although at the time of the study on transgendered individuals being transgendered was categorized as a mental illness; in 2012 it was declassified, in honoring the process and purity of research it is important that decisions be made objectively despite one’s conviction. However, human history has shown that biases will inevitably surface from time to time which makes the ability to appeal a decision a necessary