Review of TriCouncil

Core Ethical Principles

TCPS2 (2018)
Tri Respect for persons;
Autonomy
Council
(TCPS2) Concern for Welfare
Core
Ethical
Principles Justice

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 • Treat individuals as autonomous agents.
• Do not use a person as a means to an end.
• Allow people to choose for themselves/right to self
Respect for determination
• Give extra protection to those with limited
Persons autonomy.
• Respect for persons means the researcher should:
• -ensures participation is completely voluntary
• -obtains informed consent

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  The welfare of a person is the quality of that person’s
experience of life in all its aspects
 Concern for how person is faring – physically, mentally,
socially, spiritually.
 Harm includes any negative effects on welfare
 Researcher carefully considers the risks (physical,
psychological, social, financial etc.) and benefits of the
research and advise participants of these

Concern for  Privacy is a right: data must be confidential and/or anonymous

 Privacy is a broader concept than confidentiality: information

Welfare about ourselves (autonomy) that is personal, but also to our

bodies and personal space
 Confidentiality: pertains to the duty or obligation of those
who have become privy to personal information not to
disclose it or to access it without the person’s knowledge or
permission. Use of pseudonyms in reports
 Anonymity: Researcher cannot link individuals with the
information provided.

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 • Treat people fairly and equitable.
• Fair sharing of burdens and benefits of research
• One important difference that must be considered
for fairness and equity is vulnerability:
• Neither neglect nor discriminate against
individuals and groups
Justice • Treat people with respect and concern
• Researcher is especially alert for “power
relationships” that might influence
participation.
• Treating people fairly and equitably does not
always mean treating people in the same way
• Distinguish procedural justice from distributive
(society as a whole) justice.
Research Ethics Boards (REBs)
(1 of 2)

• Research Ethics Board (REB) also known as

Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Review research projects and assess that ethical
standards are met in relation to the protection of
the rights of human participants
1. At least five members of various backgrounds to
promote complete and adequate project review.
2. Members qualified by virtue of expertise, experience,
and reflect professional, gender, racial, and cultural
diversity.

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Research Ethics Boards (REBs)
(2 of 2)

3. Membership must include one member whose

concerns are primarily nonscientific (lawyer, member
of clergy, ethicist).
4. At least one member from outside the institution
(community member).
5. REB members have mandatory training in scientific
integrity and prevention of scientific misconduct, as do
principal investigators of a research study and research
team members.
6. REB is responsible for protecting participants from
undue risk and loss of personal rights and dignity.

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Special • Vulnerable participants
• Children
Consideration
• Prisoners
s • Mentally disabled persons
• Economically disadvantaged
• Educationally disadvantaged
• Subtle vulnerability: language, culture,
pregnancy, students, employees, substance
abuse, health status