Content
Please note:
The Human Research Ethics Handbook – Commentary on the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans has been revoked. This information is kept here for archival purposes only. For the current guidelines, Human Research Ethics Committees should refer to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007.
Preface
The development of The Human Research Handbook
In February 1998, the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) decided to seek tenders for the preparation of a manual for what were then known as institutional ethics committees. AHEC was then developing the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans and it was thought that such a manual would be a valuable aid in the use of the National Statement.
The tender was let to a consortium referred to in this document as the Editorial Committee. The Committee commissioned the writing of the drafts of the manual from the many contributors referred to as consultant authors. The members of the Editorial Committee and the consultant authors are acknowledged and listed on the following page.
That draft was then reviewed by members of AHEC in the 19971999 triennium. A limited process of consultation was undertaken with experienced institutional ethics committee members. As a result of responses from these processes, the material in the draft was re-ordered into the present layered structure of commentary, research ethics and research law collection. AHEC appointed A/Professor Colin Thomson, Deputy Chair of AHEC, to undertake the process of re-organisation of the material and to coordinate the ongoing development of the Handbook.
A one-day roundtable examination of this re-structured draft by a wide range of people representing ethics committees, researchers and lay people resulted in some further refinement, including editing and indexing. The final stage has involved professional editing, indexing and conversion to an electronic format. Further comments were then sought from AHEC members and some ethics committee members.
A deep debt of gratitude is owed to the Editorial Committee, consultant authors and commentators, who provided the substantive material for AHEC and NHMRC. In particular, AHEC wishes to acknowledge and warmly thank A/Professor Colin Thomson for the time and energy he dedicated to the skilled editing of the Handbook and for guiding all involved to the successful conclusion of this important project. AHEC has good reason to believe that the present volume will provide lasting assistance and guidance to human research ethics committees. That said, AHEC recognises, as did the original editorial committee, that the work is not complete. Experience will expose further matters on which advice and clarification is needed. In issuing the Handbook, AHEC accepts the responsibility of maintaining an active role in its continued revision, updating and development, and invites comments and suggestions for improvements and additions.
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Disclaimer
This Handbook has been designed to provide recommendations only, for the assistance and guidance of Human Research Ethics Committee members, researchers and research participants. The Australian Health Ethics Committee does not warrant that the information contained in them is in every respect accurate or complete, and it is not responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from the use of such information. Readers are encouraged to consider critically the information and suggestions contained in these parts of the Handbook and to make up their own minds in relation to the relevant issues and facts.
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Handbook TOC
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Abbreviations
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Commentary on the National Statement
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A Research Ethics Collection
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A Research Law Collection
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Bibliography
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Appendices
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