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ABSTRACT

Waivers of informed consent for research participation are permitted in the United States under the Common Rule, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, and the FDA's Exception from Informed Consent (EFIC) rule for emergency research. We assess the novel question regarding what legal right researchers have to carry out research procedures on or about another person, be it experimental medical intervention, psychological or social manipulation, or invasion of privacy, without the permission of their subjects. Our analysis frames waivers of consent as a species of presumed consent, and we address the underlying empirical question of whether it is reasonable to believe that subjects from whom no consent is sought would in fact agree, if asked. A scoping review of what is known about participation and refusal rates in US-based research suggests that a large minority, on average, do not agree to take part in research. Refusal rates vary widely. This suggests that, while researchers may assert the social utility of their studies are high enough to justify waivers, there is reason to suspect that many who would be enrolled under a waiver of consent would not want to be enrolled. We conclude that waivers should be rare, and that IRBs and researchers must explicitly address study acceptability in the community at large and the target population of their proposed research.

Forthcoming events

20th Annual OVG Immunisation Seminar

Thursday, 13 March 2025, 9am to 4pm @ Unipart House Garsington Road Cowley Oxford OX4 2PG

A one-day seminar for HCPs providing key updates and the latest news on the topic of immunisations.

IIC 2025 - Hot Topics In Infection And Immunity In Children – The ESPID Oxford Course

Monday, 23 June 2025 to Wednesday, 25 June 2025, 10am - 2pm @ Mathematical Institute University of Oxford Andrew Wiles Building Radcliffe Observatory Quarter (550) Woodstock Road Oxford OX2 6GG

IIC – The ESPID-Oxford Course is a residential training course covering topics in paediatric infection for paediatric infectious diseases trainees and trainers, and for all those who manage children with infections. 2025 will be the 22nd edition of the course.