Ethical aspects of medical research have had a high public profile in the UK lately. There has been concern, for example, about the level of information provided to participants when consenting to clinical trials; regarding the retention of organs removed at necropsy without the knowledge or permission of next of kin; and about the rights and wrongs of cloning human tissues. In general, occupat...

Research ethics consultation services are designed to help scientists address ethical and societal issues that may not be considered in the context of existing regulatory frameworks, such as institutional review boards. Here, we identify some types of biomedical research for which the research process can benefit from consultation with ethicists.

Implication for health policy makers/practice/research/medical education: This editorial emphasizes the importance of abiding by universal protocols of medical ethics when undertaking clinical research. As a researcher with several affiliations and commitments , I am often asked to assess clinical research studies , and approve student dissertation proposals prior to their initiation. One of th...