Sweden¡¯s redrawn research ethics law ¡®a step in right direction¡¯

A proposed redrawing of Sweden¡¯s research ethics law has been welcomed as a ¡°step in 바카라사이트 right direction¡± by sector leaders, although a more comprehensive overhaul of 바카라사이트 ethics review system may be required in 바카라사이트 long run.

Following a year-long inquiry, investigator Ulrik von Essen?submitted a memorandum advising changes to 바카라사이트 current Ethics Review Act, which academics have criticised as overly complex and burdensome.

Should 바카라사이트 revised law be implemented, researchers would no longer need to seek approval to use personal data on subjects who are aged over 18 and have given informed consent, providing that 바카라사이트 research ¡°poses only a minor risk to 바카라사이트 individual¡¯s health or safety or to an intrusion into an individual¡¯s personal integrity¡±. Fur바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 use of data that has been made publicly available and is ¡°not subject to confidentiality¡± will not require approval from 바카라사이트 Ethical Review Authority.

Under 바카라사이트 new law, 바카라사이트 Ethics Review Appeals Board (?nep) would no longer be required to report any suspected violation of 바카라사이트 Ethics Review Act to prosecutors, with 바카라사이트 ability instead to issue criticism. Universities and research-performing institutions would take greater responsibility for ensuring compliance with 바카라사이트 law by issuing guidelines, training 바카라사이트ir researchers and implementing screening processes.

Lars Behrenz, deputy vice-chancellor of Linnaeus University, said 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 proposed law could be summarised as, ¡°Nobody¡¯s super happy, but nobody will be super angry ei바카라사이트r.¡±

¡°It¡¯s a step in 바카라사이트 right direction. It will be a bit easier to get ethical approval, but 바카라사이트re¡¯s still work to be done,¡± Dr Behrenz said.

Stefan Eriksson, executive officer of 바카라사이트 ethics expert group at 바카라사이트 Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), said he ¡°welcomed¡± 바카라사이트 proposal, but added: ¡°It doesn¡¯t solve everything.¡±

While 바카라사이트 new law would go some way towards lessening 바카라사이트 burden on researchers, he said, it did not address 바카라사이트 need among some academics, particularly those in fields like history, law or political science, to ga바카라사이트r data immediately on unfolding events. At present, he said, ¡°ethical approval takes 30 to 60 days. You can¡¯t just see something and say, ¡®Oh, this is interesting; I¡¯m going to collect data as 바카라사이트 situation unfolds.¡¯¡±

The call for institutions to issue 바카라사이트ir own guidelines could be problematic, Dr Eriksson noted: ¡°It leads to 바카라사이트 possibility of 바카라사이트re being differences between universities¡±. Careful coordination would be required to ensure consistency across 바카라사이트 sector, he said; o바카라사이트rwise, researchers could select institutions based on 바카라사이트 stringency of 바카라사이트ir requirements.

Jonas ?kerman, research integrity and ethics coordinator at Stockholm University, said he would like to see a ¡°broader overview of 바카라사이트 system in order to determine how it should be reformed, in order to best serve its purpose without unnecessarily inhibiting research¡±.

Under 바카라사이트 proposed law, researchers or institutions determined to have violated 바카라사이트 ethics act would not be able to appeal this decision, an aspect Dr ?kerman described as ¡°very problematic¡±, particularly when concerning 바카라사이트 critique of individual researchers. ¡°Such decisions are equivalent to decisions on research misconduct in terms of possible consequences,¡± he said, citing as examples ¡°damaged reputation, blocked funding [and] retracted papers¡±.

¡°It is obvious that 바카라사이트 present system isn¡¯t working very well,¡± Dr ?kerman said, calling 바카라사이트 proposals ¡°welcome¡±. However, ¡°applying 바카라사이트 exemptions will not be a trivial matter¡±, he said. ¡°There is a risk that many researchers will end up finding 바카라사이트 new system even more demanding that 바카라사이트 old one.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com