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Implications of informed consent for obstetric research

Neonatal Unit, North Staffordshire University Hospitals NHS Trust, City General Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QC, UK. Email: andy.spencer{at}uhns.nhs.uk (corresponding author)

Angus Dawson, MSc PhD, Director

Centre for Professional Ethics, Keele University, Staffs, UK.

The new Research Governance Framework places emphasis upon gaining fully informed consent from all potential research participants. In obstetric practice, research projects often involve emergency procedures or treatments at a time when women are distressed. There is a growing tendency not to involve such women in research because of the difficulty in obtaining consent. This could result in failure to develop improved treatments for mothers and babies. This review discusses some of these problems and suggests a number of ways to improve knowledge of research at an early stage of pregnancy as a way of addressing them.

Keywords Keywords / competence / informed consent / ethics / patient comprehension / research risks and benefits