Ethics guidelines for research with the recently dead

• Published in: Nature medicine Vol. 11; no. 11; pp. 1145 - 1149
• Main Authors: Pentz, Rebecca D, Cohen, Cynthia B, Wicclair, Mark, DeVita, Michael A, Flamm, Anne Lederman, Youngner, Stuart J, Hamric, Ann B, McCabe, Mary S, Glover, Jacqueline J, Kittiko, Winona J, Kinlaw, Kathy, Keller, James, Asch, Adrienne, Kavanagh, John J, Arap, Wadih
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Bioethics; Community involvement; Death; Ethical Review; Ethics Committees, Research; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; United States; United States; Death and Euthanasia; Biomedical and Behavioral Research
• ISSN: 1078-8956; 1546-170X
• DOI: 10.1038/nm1105-1145

The objective of the multidisciplinary expert Consensus Panel on Research with the Recently Dead (CPRRD) was to craft ethics guidelines for research with the recently dead. The CPRRD recommends that research with the recently dead: (i) receive scientific and ethical review and oversight; (ii) involve the community of potential research subjects; (iii) be coordinated with organ procurement organizations; (iv) not conflict with organ donation or required autopsy; (v) use procedures respectful of the dead; (vi) be restricted to one procedure per day; (vii) preferably be authorized by first-person consent, though both general advance research directives and surrogate consent are acceptable; (viii) protect confidentiality; (ix) not impose costs on subjects' estates or next of kin and not involve payment; (x) clearly explain ultimate disposition of the body.