Ethical Issues in the Study of Bereavement: the Opinions of Bereaved Adults

Few studies examine ethical issues in bereavement research and none survey the opinions of bereaved individuals who have not previously participated in bereavement research. This study examined the theoretical opinions of bereaved adults about ethical issues such as attitudes toward bereavement research, timing and methods of recruitment, and competency to consent. Participants felt positively about bereavement research, although opinions about timing and method of recruitment were varied. The results also suggest that bereaved individuals should be considered competent to consent to bereavement research participation. Conclusions may guide bereavement researchers and research ethics boards in the design and review of bereavement studies.