EXPERT OPINIONS   Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2009 July-August;75(7-8):443-6

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Conducting research on the critically ill: an ethical perspective

Whetstine L. M.

Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA

There are two primary concerns posed by research involving critically ill patients: whether such individuals are competent to give informed consent for participation and how and whether to proceed if they are not. This paper synthesizes the recent debate regarding the use of human research subjects who are critically ill, undertakes a conceptual analysis of informed consent and its application to such patients, and ultimately concludes that research on this vulnerable population may be ethical if specific measures are undertaken.