Informed consent in clinical studies

Abstract

Informed and voluntary consent are important aspects when conducting human research and is an area that is frequently talked about particularly since the atrocities of the World War II. Since, there have been numerous legal additions to safeguard research volunteers and ethics approval also incorporates this process. This is therefore one of the nuts and bolts in research methodology. This article looks at the informed consent process and how this is obtained. It discussed how research informed consent varied from consent for a clinical procedure and looks at occasions when this important aspect can be waived.