Research Ethics Policy
6 |
P a g e
i.
Physical Harm
Medical research may expose subjects to some level of injury from medical procedures
since subjects are likely to experience possible side effects of drugs.
ii.
Psychological Harm
Participants may experience some undesirable transformations in emotions or thought-
processes. Even though some of these changes may be short-lived, intermittent or long-
lasting, they have the potential of causing severe psychological harm to participants.
iii.
Social or Economic Harm
Where participants participate in behavioural research that require provision of some
sensitive information in relation to illegal activities, drug or use of alcohol, invasion of
privacy, a breach of confidentiality could result in humiliation within one's community, loss
of employment or criminal prosecution.
5.3 Non-malfeasance
This principle ensures that harm is avoided to research subjects. It also requires that
subjects are given the opportunity to withdraw from a study at any time without penalty.
5.4 Justice
It refers to the ethical obligation to treat each subject in accordance with what is morally
right and proper and also to give each person what is due to him or her. An injustice
therefore happens when a person who is entitled to some benefit is denied without
reasonable cause or when some burden is unduly imposed on him.
6. Institutional Authority
The UG Research Ethics Policy establishes and empowers all three (3) UG Ethics
Committees to perform the following mandates:
i.
To review all research projects involving human and non-human subjects.
ii.
To respect the dignity, rights and wellbeing of all research subjects.
iii.
To maximize the public benefit of research and minimize harm.
iv.
To oversee the activities in approved projects within their capacity as well as yearly
scheduled continuing review and verification of compliance with approved research
protocols and informed consent.
