Abstract
This paper presents the results from a survey of first-level hospitals in Urumqi, China. The survey had two parts: the first part was aimed at understanding the operation of the ethics committees of first-level hospitals, including the process for electing members and the variety of members’ backgrounds. Information was also gathered about the establishment of criteria, operational rules and regulations, and standard operational procedures. The aim of the second part was to investigate the level of understanding among technicians and doctors about the function of the ethics committees. This paper identifies and analyzes some deficiencies found in the operation of hospital ethics committees, offers some constructive suggestions for improvement, and promotes the role of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region hospital ethics committees.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cao, Y.F., Wang, Y.L., Yang, W.T., Zheng, L.J., Shen, X.Q., 2004. Establishing background & function & construction proposing of our “Medical Ethics Committee”. Chin. Med. Ethics, 17(5):31–32 (in Chinese). [doi:10.3969/j.issn. 1001-8565.2004.05.014]
Chen, Y.F., Qiu, R.Z., 2003. Biomedical Research Ethics, 1st Ed. Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Press, Beijing (in Chinese).
Fan, R., 2008. The Study of the Status of Medical Ethics Committee in Zhejiang Province. MS Thesis, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (in Chinese).
Hu, Q.L., Chen, R.B., Shen, M.X., Qiu, X.X., 2005. Construction of establishing national bioethical committee. Chin. Med. Ethics, 18(2):25–26 (in Chinese). [doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-8565.2005.02.012]
Li, B.F., 2007. On the Development of IRB in China. Chin. Med. Ethics, 20(2):3–6 (in Chinese). [doi:10.3969/ j.issn.1001-8565.2007.02.001]
Li, J.M., 2009. Discussion on standard management in institutional review board for clinical trials in China. Chin. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 25(2):169–171 (in Chinese).
Lu, R.P., Wen, H., Hou, Y.M., Wang, J.H., 2009. Discussion on the role of medical ethics in large-scale hospitals. Chin. Med. Ethics, 22(4):40–41, 44 (in Chinese). [doi:10. 3969/j.issn.1001-8565.2009.04.016]
Ministry of Health of China, 2007. Methods Used in Biomedical Research Involving Humans. Available from http://www.moh.gov.cn/mohbgt/pw10702/200804/18816.shtml (in Chinese) [Accessed on Mar. 7, 2013].
National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1979. The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Available from http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/policy/belmont.html [Accessed on Mar. 7, 2013].
Nie, J.B., Anderson, L., 2003. Bioethics in New Zealand: A Historical and Sociological Review. In: Peppin, J.F., Cherry, M.J. (Eds.), Annals of Bioethics. Vol. 1, Swetz & Zeitlinger Publishers, the Netherlands.
Sun, M.Y., Wang, L.H., Xu, D.X., Lin, M., Huang, S.M., 1996. Hospital Ethics. Harbin Education Press, p.84 (in Chinese).
University of Otago, 2013. Human Ethics Committee. University of Otago, New Zealand. Available from http://www.otago.ac.nz/administration/committees/otago000864.html [Accessed on Feb. 4, 2013].
Wang, W., 2011. Urumqi Statistical Yearbook 2011. China Statistics Press (in Chinese).
Wang, X.Q., Xiong, N.N., 2006. Standard Operating Procedures for Ethics Committees in Institution of Clinical Trial. Science Press, Beijing, China, p.18–19 (in Chinese).
WHO (World Health Organization), 2000. Operational Guidelines for Ethics Committees that Review Biomedical Research. TDR/PRD/ETHICS/2000.1.
Xiong, N.N., Liu, F., Jiang, M., Fu, W.M., Bo, Q.Y., Wang, X.Q., Gao, W.M., Zou, J.D., 2003. Standard operating procedures for ethics committees in institution of clinical trail. Chin. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 8(4):477–480 (in Chinese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Project (No. 12XSH010) supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, J., Shen, J. & Liu, Pz. A survey of five first-level hospital ethics committees in Urumqi, China. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 14, 541–548 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1300085
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1300085