Work of a district ethical committee.

chairman of the scientific advisory group, consultant physician discussed either special ethical problems2-6 or the work of a large area ethical committee.7 Little has been written of the work of district-based committees. We therefore thought it appropriate to describe how the Harrow District Ethical Committee has evolved its own structure, function, and expertise during the eight years of its existence. Background, constitution, and aims of the committee When first constituted, the Northwick Park Hospital Ethical Committee considered projects from both the hospital, a National Health Service establishment, and the Clinical Research Centre, which, although integrated with the hospital, is administered by the Medical Research Council. After the NHS reorganisation in 1974 area health authorities became responsible for clinical research conducted in all premises under their control, so the ethical committee began to consider research projects in the community and changed its name to the Harrow District Ethical Committee. The responsibility of the committee to the AHA emphasises its independence from any medical establishment within the hospital.