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Introduction |
The
Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at the University of Sydney
was established in 1990. The HREC operates under the National Statement
on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans issued by the National
Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in accordance with the
NHMRC ACT, 1992 (Cth). The National Statement is endorsed
by the Australian Vice Chancellor's Committee, the Australian Research
Council, the Australian Academy of the Humanities, the Australian
Academy of Science and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
It is also supported by the Academy of Technological Sciences and
Engineering. The HREC has three primary aims:
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To
protect the rights and welfare of human subjects and minimise
the risk of physical and mental discomfort, harm and danger from
research procedures;
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To
protect the rights of the researcher to carry out legitimate investigation
as well as the University's reputation for the research conducted
and sponsored by it;
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To
minimise the potential for claims of negligence made against the
researcher and the University.
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Main
Functions |
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To consider the ethical implications of all proposed human research
projects and determine whether or not they are acceptable on
ethical grounds.
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To monitor research projects until completion so that the committee
may be satisfied that they continue to conform with approved
ethical standards. The method of monitoring may vary from project
to project.
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To maintain a record of all proposed research projects preserved
in the form in which they are finally approved.
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To establish and maintain communication with the Australian
Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) and, upon request, to provide
it with access to information in the Human Research Ethics
Committee's records.
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To
conform with the NHMRC Statement on Human Experimentation,
and Supplementary Notes 1992 as published from time
to time.
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To ensure, while promoting the advance of knowledge by research,
that the rights of the subjects of research take precedence
over the expected benefits to human knowledge.
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To ensure that the adequacy and completeness of verbal and/or
written information is provided to subjects, relatives, guardians
or legal representatives.
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To consider the extent of any reward, inducement or burden for
participation in research projects.
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To
examine the method of subject recruitment and informed consent
process.
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To ensure that correct procedures relating to obtaining consent
are observed.
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To ensure that research projects take into consideration local
cultural and social attitudes.
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To give its own consideration to projects that involve research
in more than one institution.
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To ensure that no members of the Committee adjudicate on proposals
in which they may be personally involved.
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To require the investigators to disclose any previous decisions
regarding the project, or a similar project, made by another
Ethics Committee and whether the protocol is presently before
another Ethics Committee.
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Composition
and Membership |
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The
membership of the Committee is comprised of the mandatory members
stated in the National Statement and additional members with expertise
relevant to the nature of research undertaken at the University
of Sydney. Under the National Statement the minimum membership of
an HREC is seven members, being men and women, comprising:
A
chairperson
At
least two members who are lay people, one man and one woman, who
have no affiliation with the institution or organisation, are not
currently involved in medical, scientific, or legal work, and who
are preferably from the community in which the institution or organisation
is located;
At
least one member with knowledge of, and current experience in, the
areas of research that are regularly considered by the HREC (eg,
health, medical, social, psychological, epidemiological) as appropriate;
At
least one member with knowledge of, and current experience in, the
professional care, counselling or treatment of people (eg. Medical
practitioner, clinical psychologist, social worker, nurse) as appropriate;
At
least one member who is a minister of religion, or a person who
performs a similar role in a community such as an Aboriginal elder;
and
At
least one member who is a lawyer.
(From
the National Statement, 1999, p.15-16)
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