Scope
Note: This Procedure is consistent with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (“TCPS 2 (2022)”), Chapter 4 – Fairness and Equity in Research Participation.
This procedure forms part of JIBC’s Research Involving Human Participants Ethics Policy (the “Policy”) and should be followed and applied in relation to the free and informed consent of participants in research at JIBC under the Policy. Terms not otherwise defined in this procedure are as defined in the Policy.
Purpose
JIBC supports the principle of justice in research ethics, which holds that particular individuals, groups or communities should neither bear an unfair share of the direct burdens of participating in research, nor should they be unfairly excluded from the potential benefits of research participation.
Procedural Guiding Principles
Appropriate Inclusion (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Article 4.1)
Taking into account the scope and objectives of their research, researchers should be inclusive in selecting participants. Researchers shall not exclude individuals from the opportunity to participate in research on the basis of attributes such as culture, language, religion, race, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, linguistic proficiency, gender or age, unless there is a valid reason for the exclusion.
Inappropriate Exclusion
Research Involving Women (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Articles 4.2 and 4.3)
Women shall not be inappropriately excluded from research solely on the basis of gender or sex. Women shall not be inappropriately excluded from research solely on the basis of their reproductive capacity, or because they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Research Involving Children (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Article 4.4)
Children shall not be inappropriately excluded from research solely on the basis of their age or developmental stage. The inclusion of children in research is subject to Article 4.6 of the TCPS 2 (2022).
Research Involving the Elderly (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Article 4.5)
Elderly people shall not be inappropriately excluded from research solely on the basis of their age.
Research Involving Participants Who Lack Decision-Making Capacity (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Article 4.6)
Subject to applicable legal requirements, individuals who lack capacity to decide whether to participate in research shall not be inappropriately excluded from research. Where a researcher seeks to involve individuals in research who do not have decision-making capacity, the researcher shall, in addition to fulfilling the conditions in Articles 3.9 and 3.10, satisfy the Research Ethics Board that:
- the research question can be addressed only with participants within the identified group; and
- the research does not expose the participants to more than minimal risk without the prospect of direct benefits for them; or
- where the research entails only minimal risk, it should at least have the prospect of providing benefits to participants or to a group that is the focus of the research and to which the participants belong.
Participants’ Vulnerability and Research (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Article 4.7)
Individuals or groups whose circumstances may make them vulnerable in the context of research should not be inappropriately included or automatically excluded from participation in research on the basis of their circumstances.
Dissemination of Research Results (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 4, Article 4.8)
Researchers shall disseminate, through publication or otherwise, the analysis of data and interpretation of research results, including those that do not support the research hypotheses. The dissemination shall take place in a timely manner without undue restriction.