The document discusses the roles and responsibilities of ethics committees (ECs) or institutional review boards (IRBs). It states that ECs are independent bodies composed of medical, scientific, and non-scientific members who ensure the protection of human subjects in clinical trials. Their key responsibilities include reviewing and approving study protocols and informed consent documents. The document outlines that ECs should have a diverse membership including specialists in different areas like science, medicine, ethics, law, and lay persons. It explains the perspectives and expertise that different member types, such as basic scientists, legal experts, and social workers, provide to the EC. Finally, it states that the primary purpose of EC/IRB review is to assure the protection of subjects' rights

1. ETHICS
COMMITTEE- ANAM SHAIKH

2. 1. What constitutes an EC?
2. What is its authority?
3. Who all are members?
4. What are their roles?
5. What does EC review?
Understanding EC!

3. Institutional Review Board (IRB)
An independent body constituted of medical, scientific, and non scientific members, whose responsibility it is to
ensure the protection of the rights, safety, and wellbeing of human subjects involved in a trial by, among other
things, reviewing, approving, and providing continuing review of trial protocol and of the methods and material
to be used in obtaining and documenting informed consent of the trial subjects.

4.  Research Ethics Committee (REC) in the United Kingdom
 Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC) in the Netherlands
 Comités de Protection des Personnes (CPP) in France
 Institutional Review Board in United States
 Research Ethics Board (REB) in Canada
 Human Research ethics committee (HREC) in Australia
Some EC/IRB around
world

5. What is an EC/IRB!
 An independent body
 Made of medical professionals and non-
medical members
 Protect the participant & provide public
assurance

6. What authority does EC/IRB
have!
It is required by law
It is mandated (give someone authority) by national & International
guidelines
Established by the Institutions highest body
 Mandated to act independently

7. Who all should be members!
Reasonable number of members
Collectively have qualifications and experience to review and
evaluate the proposed research
Science
Medical aspects
Ethics

8. ChairpersonMember
Secretary
PI
Legal
Expert
Basic Scientist
(Post Grad.)
Medical Specialist
(Post Grad.)
Lay person
Social Worker/
Theologist/
philosopher
External Subject
Expert
Inside the
institution Outside the
institution
Composition as per
Schedule Y

9. EC- Basic Medical
Scientist
Who can be a Basic Medical Scientist?
 Scientific
 Specialized or professional knowledge of subject matter
(Pharmacology)*
 Qualification of an expert (MD- Pharmacology)*

10. EC- Lay
Person
Who can be a lay person?
• Non Scientific
• No Specialized or professional knowledge of subject matter (in this
case bio medical research, health/medicine)*
• No qualification of an expert
• Should be from the community/society served by the hospital

11. Why a lay person!
What is a Lay person’s perspective?
Safeguard the public interest
To contribute a user perspective or
‘patient voice’ to professional
discussions
Review the ICF for language &
understanding

12. EC- Legal
Person
Who can be a legal person?
Non Scientific
Professional Qualification to practice law as per the requirements of the country
An expert in given field of knowledge (Legal)
Specialized or professional knowledge of subject matter (in this case knowledge of
medico-legal cases)

13. Why have a legal person!
What is a Legal person’s perspective?
Ensure EC decisions do not contravene the law
Ensure the legal rights of patient are protected
Review ICF
Review Insurance
Review CTA (Clinical trail approval)

14. EC- Social
Worker
Who can be a Social Worker?
Non scientific
Social worker engaged with a NGO
An expert in given field of knowledge (Bioethics)
Specialized or professional knowledge of subject matter (in this case
knowledge of public health policy and societal risk/impact)

15. Why a Social worker!
What does a SW person do?
• Is any project likely to cause any social harm? (eg-discrimination)
• Review ICF from to protect rights of participants
• Language understandable and will help in decision making
• No harm due to Socio- economic vulnerability
• Culturally acceptable
• No risk due to Social hierarchy
• No language to undue influence participation
• In cases of vulnerable participants, help EC determine measures to
enhance protection

16. What is the purpose of EC/IRB
review!
The primary purpose of such review is –
“ Assure the protection”
Rights
Safety
Welfare
of the human subjects

17. What does an EC/IRB do?
Reviewing and providing opinion on-
• Trial protocol
• Suitability of the investigator(s)
• Suitability of facilities
• Methods and material used in obtaining and
documenting informed consent of trial subjects

18. • First patient in
• Number of subjects recruited/ withdrawn
• Investigator to promptly report-
o Deviations from protocol
o New safety information
o Any increased risk to participants/ unanticipated problems
o Serious & unexpected AE
o Complaints from subjects
What does the EC/IRB do?

19. THANKYOU