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Human Ethics Committee

• Terms of Reference
• Composition
• Guidelines for Ethical Practices in Research and Teaching Involving Human Participants
• Meetings for 2012
• Forms

Terms of Reference

• To ensure that all teaching and research within the University, or under the auspices of the University, which involves human participants or the use of personal information is carried out in accordance with the University's guidelines for ethics by:
  • considering and, where appropriate, approving proposals;
  • recognising or noting approvals granted by other bodies accredited by the Health Research Council or the Director-General of Health;
  • approving departmental procedures and periodically auditing those procedures and any approvals that departments have given;
• To consider any matter of ethical concern relating to the involvement of human participants in research or teaching which any student or member of staff of the University raises with the Committee;
• To ensure that research or teaching proposals are carried out in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, with the currently applicable National Standard for Ethics Committees, and other relevant professional codes relating to research;
• To review at least at three yearly intervals the policies and procedures for giving ethical approval to teaching or research proposals and to foster an awareness of those procedures and of ethical principles in general within the University;
• To modify ethical procedures when required to ensurecontinued accreditation of the Committee under the currently applicable National Standard for Ethics Committees.
• To report annually to the Health Research Council.
• To report annually to the University Council through the Ethics and Statutory Regulation Compliance Committee and otherwise as necessary.

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Composition

• 1 lay member of the Council appointed by the Council (Convenor)
• The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise)
• The Director (or nominee) of the Bioethics Research Centre
• 1 member of the academic staff of the Department of Psychology nominated by the Head of Department
• 1 member of the academic staff of the School of Medical Sciences nominate by the Dean of the School
• 1 member of the academic staff of any Division who has clinical medical qualifications and experience, nominated by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
• 1 member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Law nominated by the Dean of the Faculty
• 2 Māori members nominated by the Treaty of Waitangi Committee
• 2 lay members nominated by the Convenor of the Senate
• 1 student member nominated by the Executive of the Students' Association
• (With power to co-opt up to two further members)
• (Members of the Committee shall be chosen not only because of the area of their expertise but also for their personal qualities. The Committee's membership shall at any time reflect an appropriate diversity of knowledge and experience in ethics, philosophy, law, health sciences, research design and tikanga Māori.)

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Guidelines for Ethical Practices in Research and Teaching Involving Human Participants

The Guidelines for Ethical Practices in Research and Teaching Involving Human Participants is available at 

http://www.otago.ac.nz/administration/academiccommittees/otago015522.html

Meetings for 2012

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Forms

• Application to the Ethics Committee for Ethical Approval of a Research or Teaching Proposal involving Human Participants (Category A) (If using Internet Explorer, you may need to save to view)
• Filling Out Your Human Ethics Application - Important Notes for Applicants (Category A)
• Ethical Approval at Departmental Level of a Proposal Involving Human Participants (Category B) (If using Internet Explorer, you may need to save to view)