Montreal, July 2, 2003 - The IRSST's board of directors has just adopted an ethics policy for research involving people.
People are at the heart of our concerns
With the mandate and composition of the IRSST's scientific advisory board, consisting of members of the scientific community and employer and union representatives, projects financed by the IRSST have characteristics that already provide certain guarantees about the pertinence of doing a study and its practical benefits for Québec workers and employers. This research takes several forms and often requires the participation of people during interviews, surveys, tests of prototypes, the observation of individuals or groups, sampling or laboratory tests. "With this policy, the IRSST has made official its practice in which its scientific and technical personnel respond appropriately to the dilemmas and considerations associated with any research involving people. This policy confirms the institute's concern that respect for the people participating in research work be at the heart of the researchers' considerations," stated Jean-Claude Martin, director of quality and special projects and the person responsible for developing this policy.
Tested principles and values
After consulting with several organizations and various specialists, the IRSST, in its policy, followed from the major principles established by the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. These ethical guidelines, for researchers in developing projects as well as for members of the ethics committee in evaluating a research proposal, are the following:
- Respecting human dignity
- Respecting free and informed consent
- Respecting vulnerable people
- Respecting private life and personal information
- Respecting justice and integration
- Balancing the advantages and disadvantages
- Reducing the disadvantages
- Optimizing the advantages
Precise responsibilities and rulesThe IRSST's ethics policy for research involving people relates to research, activities or projects financed by the institute or carried out by its scientific personnel and requiring human participation. The IRSST's policy stands apart by defining the roles and sharing the responsibilities that it gives to its management, directors and to the researchers. "By having an explicit policy that clearly specifies the structure and mechanisms for applying ethical rules, the IRSST strengthens its credibility with the scientific community, its partners and all of Québec's workers and employers," stated Diane Gaudet, the institute's president and CEO.
The ethics policy for research involving people is available for consultation at the following Web site (in French only) :
www.irsst.qc.ca.
