Abstract
The number of research involving human subjects on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is surging, bringing challenges to the ethical review committee (ERC) in terms of reviewing speed and special ethical considerations under the pandemic. However, the existing ethical review system and regulations have their limitations to meet the demand for a prompt and efficient epidemic control. Since the research under the public health emergency is different from that carried out in familiar situations to design and implementation, the strategy for a satisfactory ERC response should balance the duty of protecting individual participants as well as the special public needs derived from the disease control. It is suggested that the ethical review‐related regulations need to be updated, and a unified supervision system to the overall ERC is required. ERC collaboration, capacity‐improving and efficiency‐improving measures need to be taken. With respect to the reviewing guidelines, it is suggested that the international norms should be explained with more consideration of the local condition and the exceptional circumstances in this public health emergency. A joint effort needs to be taken for better research conduction.
Highlights
In December 2019, an epidemic with pneumonia as the major manifestation of the 2019 novel coronal virus infection first broke out in Wuhan, China, imposing massive impact on China and the world.[1,2] This new coronavirus is highly infective, threatening public health and safety
In the current grim situation of the epidemic, the authors believe that in the COVID-19 emergency condition, the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic should justify the use of unproven interventions just like the WHO panel considered in 2014 for the Ebola disease.[3]
China is in great need for an ethical review emergency response mechanism especially with regard to ethical review committee (ERC) collaboration in multisite clinical trials to contain the current and future possible public health emergencies.[18,19]
Summary
In December 2019, an epidemic with pneumonia as the major manifestation of the 2019 novel coronal virus infection first broke out in Wuhan, China, imposing massive impact on China and the world.[1,2] This new coronavirus is highly infective, threatening public health and safety. In the current grim situation of the epidemic, the authors believe that in the COVID-19 emergency condition, the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic should justify the use of unproven interventions just like the WHO panel considered in 2014 for the Ebola disease.[3] the ethical review committee (ERC) should explain the general ethical principles more flexibly, streamline the work, and facilitate its procedure as a response if it allows. The priority to the protection of life and the pursuit of effectiveness should always be kept in mind. The research during an unusual period can be reviewed, and informed consent can be obtained in a timely and reasonable manner
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