IJE Advance Access originally published online on March 31, 2009
International Journal of Epidemiology 2009 38(4):1104-1108; doi:10.1093/ije/dyp164
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Ethics and observational studies in medical research: various rules in a common framework
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine and Health Law, Nancy University, Nancy, France.
2University Hospital, Direction générale, Nancy, France.
3Comité de protection des personnes Est III, Nancy, France.
4Epidemiology, Inserm, University Hospital, Nancy, France.
5Faculty of Medicine, Public Health School, Nancy University, Nancy, France.
6Department of Epidemiology, Maternité Régionale Universitaire, Nancy, France.
7Comité consultatif sur le traitement de l’information en matière de recherche dans le domaine de la santé, Paris, France.
8INSERM, U720, Paris, France.
9Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S720 Paris, France.
10INSERM, U535, Villejuif, France.
11Univ Paris-Sud, IFR 69, UMR-S535, Villejuif, France.
*Corresponding author. Epidémiologie, Hôpital Marin, CHU de Nancy, C.O N°34, 54035 Nancy Cedex, France. E-mail: f.alla{at}chu-nancy.fr
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Abstract |
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Background Research ethics have become universal in their principles through international agreements. The standardization of regulations facilitates the internationalization of research concerning drugs. However, in so-called observational studies (i.e. from data collected retrospectively or prospectively, obtained without any additional therapy or monitoring procedure) the modalities used for applying the main principles vary from one country to another. This situation may entail problems for the conduct of multi-centric international studies, as well as for the publication of results if the authors and editors come from countries governed by different regulations. In particular, several French observational studies were rejected or retracted by US peer-reviewed journals, because their protocols have not been submitted to an Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee (IRB/IEC).
Methods National legislation case analysis.
Results In accordance with European regulation, French observational studies from data obtained without any additional therapy or monitoring procedure, do not need the approval of an IRB/IEC. Nevertheless, these studies are neither exempt from scientific opinion nor from ethical and legal authorization.
Conclusion We wish to demonstrate through the study of this example that different bodies of law can provide equivalent levels of protection that respect the same ethical principles. Our purpose in writing this article was to encourage public bodies, scientific journals and researchers to gain a better understanding of the various sets of specific national regulations and to speak a common language.
Keywords Ethics, research, epidemiology
Accepted 25 February 2009
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