Reference:WMA Declaration of Helsinki 2024 Paragraph 23

Document Information

Document information
Reference	WMA Declaration of Helsinki 2024
Validity area	WMA
Scope(s)	G
Document name	Declaration of Helsinki
Version / Revision	2024
Status	Current
Document type	International guideline
Language(s)	EN
Description	Declaration of Helsinki Medical Research Involving Human Participants The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) is the World Medical Association’s (WMA) best-known policy statement. The first version was adopted in 1964 and has been amended seven times since, most recently at the General Assembly in October 2024. The current (2024) version is the only official one; all previous versions* have been replaced and should not be used or cited except for historical purposes. The WMA would like to thank all those who submitted comments and suggestions for the most recent revision of the DoH.
Official source	Official link
Restricted access	No
Submitted by	Florian Adragna
Contributors

Reference Details

Scope	G
Document part	Paragraph 23
Language	EN
Original entry by	Florian Adragna
Contributors
Tags (EN)
Tags (original language)
Tags (FR)
Comment	Requirement to submit protocol to ethics committee

Text

Research Ethics Committees

23. The protocol must be submitted for consideration, comment, guidance, and approval to the concerned research ethics committee before the research begins. This committee must be transparent in its functioning and must have the independence and authority to resist undue influence from the researcher, the sponsor, or others. The committee must have sufficient resources to fulfill its duties, and its members and staff must collectively have adequate education, training, qualifications, and diversity to effectively evaluate each type of research it reviews.

The committee must have sufficient familiarity with local circumstances and context, and include at least one member of the general public. It must take into consideration the ethical, legal, and regulatory norms and standards of the country or countries in which the research is to be performed as well as applicable international norms and standards, but these must not be allowed to reduce or eliminate any of the protections for research participants set forth in this Declaration.

When collaborative research is performed internationally, the research protocol must be approved by research ethics committees in both the sponsoring and host countries. The committee must have the right to monitor, recommend changes to, withdraw approval for, and suspend ongoing research. Where monitoring is required, the researcher must provide information to the committee and/or competent data and safety monitoring entity, especially about any serious adverse events. No amendment to the protocol may be made without consideration and approval by the committee. After the end of the research, the researchers must submit a final report to the committee containing a summary of the findings and conclusions.