Ethics behind closed doors: do research ethics committees need secrecy?

Biomedical research involving human subjects must be reviewed by an independent ethics committee.1–3 In the United Kingdom, such committees are normally NHS local or multicentre research ethics committees.4–6 There is currently widespread frustration in the research community, in the regulatory authorities, and in the pharmaceutical industry with the efficiency of such committees. 7 8 At the same time there are doubts about the effectiveness of these independent committees in protecting patients.9–11 Doubts have arisen in the aftermath of some high profile scandals in the ethics of research in the United Kingdom and United States.12 13 Guidance on research governance within the public sector to parallel governance within the pharmaceutical industry is therefore welcome. 2 6 14 An important reason for the contention surrounding research ethics committees is the secrecy that surrounds them and their decision making. We argue that this secrecy is rarely justified. To investigate this, we reviewed the guidelines regulating research ethics committees in common law jurisdictions and searched the literature on research ethics committees. #### Summary points Research ethics committees have a vital role in protecting the public and facilitating useful research but are increasingly under attack In many countries, including the United Kingdom, research ethics committees meet confidentially, but no justification for this is normally offered The possible justifications (protection of patients', researchers', commercial, or academic interests and the committee's independence) are weak and unconvincing The minutes and meetings of research ethics committees should be open to the public except in a few special circumstances Independence of review is an important element of good research governance. This is partly protected by lay membership of committees, clear lines of accountability to public authorities, and strict rules relating to conflicts of interest. However, this protection of patients' interests may …