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43Ethical research in delirium: Arguments for including decisionally incapacitated subjectsScience and Engineering Ethics 16 (1): 169-174. 2010.Here we describe how more important findings were obtained in a delirium study by using an informal assessment of mental capacity, and, in those who lacked capacity, obtaining consent later when or if capacity returned or a proxy was found. From a total of 233 patients 23 patients lacked capacity as judged by our informal capacity judgment and 210 did not. Of those who lacked capacity, 13 agreed to enter in the study. Six of them regained capacity later. When these 13 participants were excluded …Read more
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33Impact of the demand for 'proxy assent' on recruitment to a randomised controlled trial of vaccination testing in care homesJournal of Medical Ethics 39 (1): 36-40. 2013.Legal frameworks are in place to protect those who lack the capacity to consent to research, such as the Mental Capacity Act in the UK. Assent is sought instead from a proxy, usually a relative. However, the same legislation may, perversely, affect the welfare of those who lack capacity and of others by hindering the process of recruitment into otherwise potentially beneficial research. In addition, the onus of responsibility is moved from those who know most about the study (ie, the scientific …Read more
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University of OtagoRegular Faculty
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Areas of Interest
Applied Ethics |
Normative Ethics |
17th/18th Century Philosophy |