When Should We Accept Consent?
Author(s):
Stuart Youngner, MD.
You are the principle investigator of a phase II study of refractory depression funded by a large pharmaceutical company. Mr. Smith has been unsuccessfully treated by a psychiatrist in the community. This psychiatrist has referred Mr. Smith to you at the academic medical center where you work and are conducting the study.
The study involves hospitalization, a washout period of four weeks, and assignment to a placebo or treatment arm. Mr. Smith agrees to the study saying, "I don't care anymore. I don't care if I get the medicine or the placebo. What difference does it make?"
Do you think Mr. Smith should be allowed to participate in the study? Why or why not?
What other information would you want to help you make this decision?
Cite this page:
Stuart Youngner, MD.
"When Should We Accept Consent?"
Online Ethics Center for Engineering
9/11/2006 3:49:30 PM
National Academy of Engineering
Accessed: Tuesday, January 06, 2009
<www.onlineethics.org/CMS/research/modindex/resethpages/whencons.aspx>