20 Years of Human Research Ethics Committees in the Baltic States

Vilius Dranseika (1) , Eugenijus Gefenas (1) , Asta Cekanauskaite (1) , Kristina Hug (2) , Signe Mezinska (3) , Eimantas Peicius (4) , Vents Silis (5) , Andres Soosaar (6) , Martin Strosberg (7)

1 Department of Medical History and Ethics
2 Department of Medical Ethics
3 RSU - Riga Stradins University
4 Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences
5 Department of Humanities
6 Department of Public Health
7 Bioethics Program

Two decades have passed since the first attempts were made to establish systematic ethical review of human research in the Baltic States. Legally and institutionally much has changed. In this paper we provide an historical and structural overview of ethical review of human research and identify some problems related to the role of ethical review in establishing quality research environment in these countries. Problems connected to (a) public availability of information, (b) management of conflicts of interest, (c) REC composition and motivation of REC members, and (d) differing levels of stringency of ethical review for different types of studies are identified. Recommendations are made to strengthen cooperation among the Baltic RECs.

Mots clés: Social Sciences & Humanities

Vilius Dranseika, Eugenijus Gefenas, Asta Cekanauskaite, Kristina Hug, Signe Mezinska, et al.. 20 Years of Human Research Ethics Committees in the Baltic States. Developing World Bioethics, 2010, 11 (1), pp.48. ⟨10.1111/j.1471-8847.2010.00288.x⟩. ⟨hal-00613808⟩