Ethics

• Code of Ethics for Research on Human Subjects
• Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
• Animal Ethics Screening Committee (AESC)

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Code of Ethics for Research on Human Subjects

The interaction between a researcher and the people investigated falls broadly into two categories. The respondent can be either a subject or an informant. In those areas of research where the individual, qua individual, (the `subject'), is the object of study, the potential problem of invasive techniques, invasion of privacy, and so on, is clear. These are handled by university ethics committees.

On the face of it, the case of `mere' informants seems to present little problem, especially as it tends to involve voluntary interaction and informants can choose to withhold co?operation. In fact, however, there are more subtle ways of exerting coercion, often unintentionally. It is essential that all researchers in the humanities and social sciences who have occasion to use informants should be aware of the ethical problems this can pose. In order to alert researchers to these dangers, the following list of precepts (based on the Code of Ethics of the American Anthropological Association) is presented:

• A researcher's paramount responsibility is to those studied. Where there is conflict of interest, they must come first. Researchers must do everything within their power to protect their informants' physical, social and psychological welfare and to honour their dignity and privacy. ?
• The aims of the investigation should be communicated as well as possible to informants.
• Informants should have the right to remain anonymous.
• Questions asked should not be insulting or embarrassing.
• The use of monitoring devices such as tape recorders and cameras should be open, and fully understood by the people concerned. They should be free to reject them if they wish. Results should be consonant with the informant's right to welfare, dignity and privacy.
• There should be no exploitation of informants for personal gain. Fair returns should be given them for all services.There is an obligation to reflect on the foreseeable repercussions of research and publication on those studied.
• The privacy and wishes of informants should at all times be respected.
• No reports should be provided to sponsors that are not also available to the general public and, where possible, to the group studied itself, subject to the policy laid down in the document, Policy on Matters Relating to Sensitive and Confidential Research.

The onus is on the researcher to comply with these guidelines. Where there is doubt in the mind of the researcher, the proposed research project should be referred to the Chairperson of the relevant HERC.

Enquiries to :
The Research Office:
Ext. 7123 or Iain.Burns@wits.ac.za

Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)

The HERC's are sub-committees of the University Research Committee.

1. HREC (MEDICAL)
   
   The HERC (Medical) is currently charged with ensuring that all research in which human subjects are involved, carried out in the University by undergraduates, post?graduates, staff or affiliated staff, in the name of the University, using University resources or University property is:
   • safe
   • ethical
   • soundly based
   • respects the right of individuals includes informed consent.
   
   

   Broad guidelines on which the committee's decisions are based are outlined in the Medical Research Council's publication (revised edition 2002) entitled "Ethical Considerations in Medical Research".

   The research protocols that require screening include all therapeutic and diagnostic research on patients as well as research on healthy subjects, be this through physical research, questionnaires or examination of records.

   METHOD OF APPLICATION
   
   Application forms are available here in the third group, save, in the case of drug trials, application must be made via the Wits Health Consortium. Application forms may be downloaded from http://www.witshealth.co.za by clicking on Ethics. In the latter case, a fee is payable. Applications will only be considered if:
   
   
   • the application form is completed legibly; 23 copies are required
     
     
   • The application form is completed in its entirety and signed by:
     (i) the applicant;
     (ii) the supervisor;
     (iii) the Head of School/Institution;
     
     
   • all necessary accompanying documents are attached. These include:
     (i) Subject Information Sheet;
     (ii) Informed Consent Form.
     
     
   • Additional documents may include:
     (iii) a Clearance Certificate from the relevant Pharmaceutics and Therapeutics
     Committee (where applicable, or where study involves any drug administration to hospitalised subjects);
     (iv) clearance from an appropriate School for the use of isotopes and/or radiation;
     (v) interview form or questionnaire to be used (if applicable).
     
     
   Applicants may avail themselves of the opportunity of discussing their proposals with the Committee or may be requested to do so. Once the proposal has been approved a clearance certificate is issued, on which are recorded any conditions set by the HERC. This clearance number is to be referred to when the research is written up for publication or submitted for higher degrees.
   
   Enquiries to and Application Forms from:
   The Research Office:
   Ext. 71234 or anisa.keshav@wits.ac.za
   or
   http://www.wits.ac.za/Academic/Research/Applications.htm
   or, in the case of drug trials:
   Admin Supervisor, Jennifer Bryce-Borthwick, Tel: (011) 274-9278, E Mail: jbryce@witshealth.co.za 
   Ethics Administrator, Augustina Hennessy, Tel: (011) 274-9279, E Mail: ahennessy@witshealth.co.za 
   Ethics Administrator, Eric Moso, Tel: (011) 274-9280, E Mail: emoso@witshealth.co.za
   
   

ETHICS MEETING & SUBMISSION DATES FOR WITS HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE: (MEDICAL):



SUBMISSION DATES 2012	HREC MEETING DATES 2012
06 January 2012 Friday	27 January 2012 Friday
07 February 2012 Tuesday	24 February 2012 Friday
07 March 2012 Wednesday	30 March 2012 Friday
06 April 2012 Friday	(Due to public holidays) 04 May 2012 Friday
07 May 2012 Monday	25 May 2012 Friday
07 June 2012 Thursday	29 June 2012 Friday
06 July 2012 Friday	27 July 2012 Friday
07 August 2012 Tuesday	31 August 2012 Friday
07 September 2012 Friday	28 September 2012 Friday
05 October 2012 Friday	26 October 2012 Friday
07 November 2012 Wednesday	30 November 2012 Friday

 

2. HREC (NON-MEDICAL)

   The role of this committee is to monitor the ethics of research protocols in the Humanities and Social Sciences, i.e. the risks and benefits to the informant or subject. The committee is responsible for looking at critical factors such as the extent to which research could be socially or psychologically invasive or damaging. (Research involving physically invasive techniques is scrutinised by the HERC (Medical) as set out in item 1 above).

   The HERC (Non-Medical) role is to ensure that all research in which humans are involved either as informants or subjects (carried out in the University by undergraduates, post?graduates, staff or affiliated staff in the name of the University) respects the rights of individuals and that:

   • the informant or subject has consented to the research without coercion;
   • the questions posed are not insulting or embarrassing;
   • confidential matters that could place the informant in an embarrassing, false or compromising position vis-à-vis authorities, are handled circumspectly;
   • the privacy and wishes of informants are respected, i.e. anonymity of the informant is maintained if required;
   • the informant is informed as fully as possible as to the aims and possible implications of the research.

   The Committee's procedures include the scrutinising of any protocols referred to it by the higher degrees committees of a Faculty; by heads of Schools in respect of undergraduate or honours level researchers; by funding committees (e.g. Richard Ward or Life Sciences Screening Committee); or by
   an individual researcher (staff or student).

   The Committee is also required to scrutinise any research instrument (e.g. a questionnaire) planned by the researcher to preclude the use of embarrassing or insulting questions.

   If the Chairman of the HERC (Non-Medical) feels the proposal referred to that Committee is more relevant to the HERC (Medical) it will be redirected to the latter Committee.

   The Committee may delegate to the Chairperson the power to act in urgent cases.
   
   ETHICS MEETING & SUBMISSION DATES FOR WITS HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE: (NON MEDICAL): Venue: CB 8

2012

Protocol Submission Cut off Date	Meeting Date
18 January	10 February
22 February	16 March
28 March	20 April
25 April	18 May
30 May	22 June
27 June	20 July
25 July	17 August
29 August	21 September
26 September	19 October
24 October	16 November


Enquiries to and Application Forms from:
The Research Office:
Ext. 71108 or Sushiela.Naidoo@wits.ac.za

or
http://www.wits.ac.za/academic/research/applications.htm/7164/grant_application_forms.html
15 copies of each application are required and 3 copies of the project proposal.  

NOTE
The Higher Degrees Committee of a Faculty, when scrutinising a research proposal, is required, where necessary, to draw the attention of a candidate to the need for clearance from the HERC (Medical) or HERC (Humanities), through the Research Office, and to obtain a clearance certificate (which includes protocol number) before commencement of research.

It is the responsibility of the Faculty Office, where necessary, to obtain from the candidate a copy of the clearance certificate from the HERC (Medical) or HERC (Humanities) and to file it on the candidate's file.

Animal Ethics Screening Committee

The Animal Ethics Screening Committee is a sub-committee of the Animal Ethics Control Committee, which is in turn a sub-committee of the University Research Committee.

This Committee (AESC) evaluates the ethical aspects of all research projects involving experiments on cephalopods or non-human vertebrates or their foetuses/embryos. Applications must be reviewed by the Committee before the commencement of such studies.

If the Committee approves the experiment it may prescribe restrictions or conditions under which the activity may be conducted, define substantial changes in the research plans (primarily in relation to ethics and wastage) and request reports on the progress of the experiment.

The Director of the Central Animal Service is required to submit a written report on any irregularities relating to use of animals in approved studies which are brought to his or her notice. Such reports will be investigated by the Animal Ethics and Control Committee.

These regulations apply to all staff members (academic, non-academic and honorary) and to all students (undergraduate and post-graduate) irrespective of where the experiment is carried out and with whom it is conducted.

Please see also the documents entitled 'Guidelines for the Use and Care of Animals in Experimental, Education and other Scientific Procedures' and 'Policy on the Use of Non-Human Primates for Research and Training'

Enquiries to and Application Forms from:
The Research Office:
Ext. 71108 or Sushiela.Naidoo@wits.ac.za
or
http://www.wits.ac.za/academic/research/applications.htm/7164/grant_application_forms.html 

14 copies of each application are required.

2012