The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research
It is not possible to consent a patient for emergency research in advance of their acute illness, as the clinical events are not predictable. We discuss the problems of undertaking research in an emergency care setting, where patients lack the capacity to provide consent but require time critical i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2020
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80334 |
| _version_ | 1848764200576352256 |
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| author | Fatovich, Daniel Finn, Judith Webb, Steve MacDonald, Stephen |
| author_facet | Fatovich, Daniel Finn, Judith Webb, Steve MacDonald, Stephen |
| author_sort | Fatovich, Daniel |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | It is not possible to consent a patient for emergency research in advance of their acute illness, as the clinical events are not predictable. We discuss the problems of undertaking research in an emergency care setting, where patients lack the capacity to provide consent but require time critical interventions. There is no settled definition of what constitutes ‘research’ as distinct from ‘treatment’. In fact their relationship is a continuum that demands similar level of oversight for both. We provide examples where the usual requirement for written informed consent means the trial underestimated benefits, because the treatment would normally be given without delay. Consent rituals that delay the start of trial treatments may in fact be unethical and offend against the Declaration of Helsinki. Clinical research delivers improved patient outcomes irrespective of the randomised group. This is currently under threat by a lack of consistency across jurisdictions in the interpretation of the relevant legislation. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:15:35Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-80334 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:15:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-803342020-12-17T07:16:06Z The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research Fatovich, Daniel Finn, Judith Webb, Steve MacDonald, Stephen It is not possible to consent a patient for emergency research in advance of their acute illness, as the clinical events are not predictable. We discuss the problems of undertaking research in an emergency care setting, where patients lack the capacity to provide consent but require time critical interventions. There is no settled definition of what constitutes ‘research’ as distinct from ‘treatment’. In fact their relationship is a continuum that demands similar level of oversight for both. We provide examples where the usual requirement for written informed consent means the trial underestimated benefits, because the treatment would normally be given without delay. Consent rituals that delay the start of trial treatments may in fact be unethical and offend against the Declaration of Helsinki. Clinical research delivers improved patient outcomes irrespective of the randomised group. This is currently under threat by a lack of consistency across jurisdictions in the interpretation of the relevant legislation. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80334 restricted |
| spellingShingle | Fatovich, Daniel Finn, Judith Webb, Steve MacDonald, Stephen The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| title | The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| title_full | The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| title_fullStr | The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| title_full_unstemmed | The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| title_short | The challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| title_sort | challenges of obtaining consent in emergency care research |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80334 |