There’s something very creepy to me about the part of research consent forms where it says “my participation was entirely voluntary.”
Do they really think an involuntary participant wouldn’t sign that? If they understand that they would, what purpose could this possibly serve, other than, as is commonly the purpose of contracts; absolving themselves of blame and moving blame to the participant? Which would be downright monstrous. Probably they just aren’t fucking consequentialists, but this is all they end up doing.
This is a minor thing, but it adds an additional creepy garnish: Nothing is 100% voluntary, because everything is a function of the involuntary base reality that other people command force and resources and we want to use them for things so we have to go along with what other people want to some extent. I’m at peace with this, and I would prefer not to have to keep denying it, and it feels like I’m being asked to participate in the addling of moral philosophy.
Maybe it’s some legal hack, like maybe in some situations you can’t dismiss unethical research, but you can dismiss fraudulent research… and a research where people were forced to falsely write that their participation was voluntary, is technically fraudulent.
I notice it also makes sure that if the participants know anything at all about the research, they know it’s supposed to be voluntary, even if they’re still forced to sign it, they learn that the law is supposed to be on their side and there is in theory someone they could call for help.
The reason is to prevent the voluntary participant from later claiming that their participation was involuntary and telling that to the IRB.
‘Well if your participation was involuntary, why did you sign this document?’
It kind of limits the arguments someone could make attacking the ethics of the study. The attacker would have to allege coercion on the order of people being forced to lie on forms under threat.
If someone explicitely writes into their consent forms “my participation was entirely voluntary” and the participation isn’t voluntary it might be easier to attack the person running the trial later.
The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential.
This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, over-reaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved, as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision. This latter element requires that, before the acceptance of an affirmative decision by the experimental subject, there should be made known to him the nature, duration, and purpose of the experiment; the method and means by which it is to be conducted; all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected; and the effects upon his health or person, which may possibly come from his participation in the experiment.
The duty and responsibility for ascertaining the quality of the consent rests upon each individual who initiates, directs or engages in the experiment. It is a personal duty and responsibility which may not be delegated to another with impunity
Important to remember and stand by the Nuremberg Code in these contexts.
There’s something very creepy to me about the part of research consent forms where it says “my participation was entirely voluntary.”
Do they really think an involuntary participant wouldn’t sign that? If they understand that they would, what purpose could this possibly serve, other than, as is commonly the purpose of contracts; absolving themselves of blame and moving blame to the participant? Which would be downright monstrous. Probably they just aren’t fucking consequentialists, but this is all they end up doing.
This is a minor thing, but it adds an additional creepy garnish: Nothing is 100% voluntary, because everything is a function of the involuntary base reality that other people command force and resources and we want to use them for things so we have to go along with what other people want to some extent. I’m at peace with this, and I would prefer not to have to keep denying it, and it feels like I’m being asked to participate in the addling of moral philosophy.
Maybe it’s some legal hack, like maybe in some situations you can’t dismiss unethical research, but you can dismiss fraudulent research… and a research where people were forced to falsely write that their participation was voluntary, is technically fraudulent.
I notice it also makes sure that if the participants know anything at all about the research, they know it’s supposed to be voluntary, even if they’re still forced to sign it, they learn that the law is supposed to be on their side and there is in theory someone they could call for help.
The reason is to prevent the voluntary participant from later claiming that their participation was involuntary and telling that to the IRB.
‘Well if your participation was involuntary, why did you sign this document?’
It kind of limits the arguments someone could make attacking the ethics of the study. The attacker would have to allege coercion on the order of people being forced to lie on forms under threat.
If someone explicitely writes into their consent forms “my participation was entirely voluntary” and the participation isn’t voluntary it might be easier to attack the person running the trial later.
Important to remember and stand by the Nuremberg Code in these contexts.