Ethical Considerations Prior to Commencing RDI Activities
RDI activities are open to all areas of knowledge within the URV and might entail ethical issues that need to be considered in advance.
Prior to commencing any RDI activity, the URV investigator has to fill out a self-assessment form on ethical issues, in which they have to answer some ethical questions by ticking the corresponding box for YES/NO. The aim is to ensure that both the research staff and the URV itself are aware of the ethical implications of the RDI activity under consideration.
This document comes with the necessary instructions on how to approach the answers, explaining the meaning of each question and specifying the complementary or mandatory information or documentation that needs to be provided to the corresponding committee.
The ethical aspects covered in the self-assessment form include the following subject areas:
- Embryos/human foetuses
- Human beings
- Human cells/tissues
- Personal data and privacy
- Animals
- Third countries
- Environment/health and protection
- Dual use
- Exclusive use in civil execution
- Malicious use of results
- Other ethical considerations
Access to the self-assessment form
In the event that the investigator gives an affirmative answer in the self-assessment form, they will be asked to provide the pertinent information and documentation relating to the ethical issues involved in the RDI activity, as set out in the Investigator's Guide and the Personal Data Protection Guide.
Subsequently, the investigator presents this complementary information and documentation to the corresponding research ethics committee in the URV, which proceeds to review and evaluate it.
The favorable report on the methodological, ethical and legal aspects is prior, prescriptive and binging to start the RDI activities that involve ethical aspects.
In case of a negative answer, the responsible researchers shall be informed of this circumstance for the purpose of starting the activity.
