New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committees


 
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Ethical Review Process

Study Participants


Guidance for people who participate in research and clinical trials, including details about their rights and who to contact for help or further information.

Information for potential participants in clinical trials


Information for Potential Participants in Clinical Trials provides information for those who are considering participating in a clinical trial of a medicine or pharmaceutical product.

It outlines what clinical trials are, and what is involved if you agree to participate in a clinical trial.

Download Information for Potential Participants in Clinical Trials

Role of ethics committees and the rights of research participants


Health and disability ethics committees provide protection for participants in research in the health and disability sector.

Ethics committee review of health and disability research involving humans is primarily designed to:
  • prevent studies that pose an unacceptable risk of harm to participants from going ahead
  • ensure that all participants in research are aware of what their participation will involve and have given informed consent.

Read more about the role of ethics committees

Who to contact for help


If you have concerns with any health and disability research that is being conducted in New Zealand, you can contact any of the following individuals and organisations.

Consumer Advocates, Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
A number of consumer advocates who work for the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner are available throughout New Zealand to assist you if you believe that the Code of Health and Disability Support Services Consumers Rights is being breached. The Code sets out the rights of all consumers in the health system, and covers participants in research into health and disability support services.

The Health and Disability Commissioner is charged with promoting and protecting the rights of health and disability consumers, and facilitating the fair, simple, speedy, and efficient resolution of complaints.

There is no charge for accessing these consumer advocates' services.

For further information:
Health and Disability Commissioner's consumer advocacy service (www.hdc.org.nz)
Committee Administrators
You can discuss your concerns about any health and disability research with the ethics committee that approved it.

Page last updated: 13 December 2007
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