Ethical Considerations for Research on Housing-Related Health Hazards Involving Children

Ethical Considerations for Research on Housing-Related Health Hazards Involving Children explores the ethical issues posed when conducting research designed to identify, understand, or ameliorate housing-related health hazards among children. Such research involves children as subjects and is conducted in the home and in communities. It is often conducted with children in low-income families given the disproportionate prevalence of housing-related conditions such as lead poisoning, asthma, and fatal injuries among these children. This book emphasizes five key elements to address the particular ethical concerns raised by these characteristics: involving the affected community in the research and responding to their concerns; ensuring that parents understand the essential elements of the research; adopting uniform federal guidelines for such research by all sponsors (Subpart D of 45 CFR 46); providing guidance on key terms in the regulations; and viewing research oversight as a system with important roles for researchers, IRBs and their research institutions, sponsors and regulators of research, and the community. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 Housing and Health 3 Grimes v. Kennedy Krieger Institute: Revisiting the Ethical Issues 4 Characteristics of Housing Health Hazards Research 5 Community Involvement 6 Parental Permission, Consent, and Payment 7 Researchers' Responsibilities 8 Research Oversight References Appendix Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff