BACKGROUND Stroke is a complex genetic disorder with a variable phenotype. Investigations of heritable factors in complex genetic disorders use pedigree and genetic techniques, which pose different ethical and methodological challenges than those routinely encountered in therapeutic research. Building consensus on acceptable research practices in this field is vital to the success of multicente...

To the Editor: In a Perspective article in this issue of the Journal, Truog provides his views on organ donation, suggesting that the pendulum between the need for transplantable organs and the rights of potential donors’ families “has swung too far in the direction of procuring organs.”1 Truog asserts that consent for organ donation is obtained “at the expense of commitments that are fundament...

The UK has an opt-in system of consent for postmortem organ donation. More specifically, the Human Tissue Act 2004 prohibits the removal, storage, and use of organs postmortem for a range of ‘‘scheduled purposes’’—which include transplantation—unless ‘‘appropriate consent’’ has been given. Appropriate consent can be given by the donor premortem by signing and carrying a donor card, or by opting...

abstract background: family planning has been defined in the framework of mothers and children plan as one of primary healthcare (phc) details. besides quantity, the quality of services, particularly in terms of ethics, such as observing individuals’ privacy, is of great importance in offering family planning services. objective: a preliminary study to gather information about the degree of med...

Background: International guidelines for medical research involving human subjects maintain the primacy of informed consent while recognizing cultural diversity. Methods: This article draws on empirical data obtained from interviews with physician-researchers in teaching hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan, to identify social and cultural factors that affect the consent process for participants in re...