(6) For research involving more than mini-
mal risk, an explanation as to whether any
compensation and an explanation as to
whether any medical treatments are avail-
able if injury occurs and, if so, what they
consist of, or where further information
may be obtained;
(7) An explanation of whom to contact for
answers to pertinent questions about the
research and research subjects' rights, and
whom to contact in the event of a re-
search-related injury to the subject; and
(8) A statement that participation is volun-
tary, refusal to participate will involve no
penalty or loss of benefits to which the
subject is otherwise entitled, and the sub-
ject may discontinue participation at any
time without penalty or loss of benefits to
which the subject is otherwise entitled.
(b) Additional elements of informed con-
sent. When appropriate, one or more of the
following elements of information shall also
be provided to each subject:
(1) A statement that the particular treat-
ment or procedure may involve risks to
the subject (or to the embryo or fetus, if
the subject is or may become pregnant)
which are currently unforeseeable;
(2) Anticipated circumstances under which
the subject's participation may be termi-
nated by the investigator without regard to
the subject's consent;
(3) Any additional costs to the subject that
may result from participation in the re-
search;
(4) The consequences of a subject's deci-
sion to withdraw from the research and
procedures for orderly termination of par-
ticipation by the subject;
(5) A statement that significant new find-
ings developed during the course of the
research which may relate to the subject's
willingness to continue participation will
be provided to the subject; and
(6) The approximate number of subjects
involved in the study.
(c) An IRB may approve a consent proce-
dure which does not include, or which alters,
some or all of the elements of informed
consent set forth above, or waive the re-
quirement to obtain informed consent pro-
vided the IRB finds and documents that:
(1) The research or demonstration project
is to be conducted by or subject to the
approval of state or local government offi-
cials and is designed to study, evaluate, or
otherwise examine: (i) public benefit or
service programs; (ii) procedures for ob-
taining benefits or services under those
programs; (iii) possible changes in or alter-
natives to those programs or procedures;
or (iv) possible changes in methods or
levels of payment for benefits or services
under those programs; and
(2) The research could not practicably be
carried out without the waiver or altera-
tion.
(d) An IRB may approve a consent proce-
dure which does not include, or which alters,
some or all of the elements of informed
consent set forth in this section, or waive
the requirements to obtain informed con-
sent provided the IRB finds and documents
that:
1) The research involves no more than mini-
mal risk to the subjects;
(2) The waiver or alteration will not ad-
versely affect the rights and welfare of the
subjects;
(3) The research could not practicably be
carried out without the waiver or alteration;
and
(4) Whenever appropriate, the subjects will
be provided with additional pertinent infor-
mation after participation.
(e) The informed consent requirements in
this policy are not intended to preempt any
applicable federal, state, or local laws which
require additional information to be dis-
closed in order for informed consent to be
legally effective.
(f) Nothing in this policy is intended to limit
the authority of a physician to provide emer-
gency medical care, to the extent the physi-
cian is permitted to do so under applicable
federal, state, or local law.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget
under Control Number 0990-0260.)
[56 FR 28012, 28022, June 18, 1991, as amended at 70
FR 36328, June 23, 2005
]
§46.117 Documentation of informed con-
sent.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of
this section, informed consent shall be docu-
mented by the use of a written consent form
approved by the IRB and signed by the sub-
ject or the subject's legally authorized repre-
sentative. A copy shall be given to the per-
son signing the form.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of
this section, the consent form may be either
of the following:
(1) A written consent document that em-
bodies the elements of informed consent
required by §46.116. This form may be read
to the subject or the subject's legally author-
ized representative, but in any event, the
investigator shall give either the subject or
the representative adequate opportunity to
read it before it is signed; or
(2) A short form written consent document
stating that the elements of informed con-
sent required by §46.116 have been pre-
sented orally to the subject or the subject's
legally authorized representative. When this
method is used, there shall be a witness to
the oral presentation. Also, the IRB shall
approve a written summary of what is to be
said to the subject or the representative.
Only the short form itself is to be signed by
the subject or the representative. However,
the witness shall sign both the short form
and a copy of the summary, and the person
actually obtaining consent shall sign a copy
of the summary. A copy of the summary
shall be given to the subject or the represen-
tative, in addition to a copy of the short
form.
(c) An IRB may waive the requirement for
the investigator to obtain a signed consent
form for some or all subjects if it finds ei-
ther:
(1) That the only record linking the subject
and the research would be the consent docu-
ment and the principal risk would be poten-
tial harm resulting from a breach of confi-
dentiality. Each subject will be asked
whether the subject wants documentation
linking the subject with the research, and the
subject's wishes will govern; or
(2) That the research presents no more than
minimal risk of harm to subjects and in-
volves no procedures for which written con-
sent is normally required outside of the re-
search context.
In cases in which the documentation re-
quirement is waived, the IRB may require
the investigator to provide subjects with a
written statement regarding the research.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget
under Control Number 0990-0260.)
[56 FR 28012, 28022, June 18, 1991, as amended at 70
FR 36328, June 23, 2005
]
§46.118 Applications and proposals lack-
ing definite plans for involvement of
human subjects.
Certain types of applications for grants, co-
operative agreements, or contracts are sub-
mitted to departments or agencies with the
knowledge that subjects may be involved
within the period of support, but definite
plans would not normally be set forth in the
application or proposal. These include ac-
tivities such as institutional type grants when
selection of specific projects is the institu-
tion's responsibility; research training grants
in which the activities involving subjects
remain to be selected; and projects in which
human subjects' involvement will depend
upon completion of instruments, prior ani-
mal studies, or purification of compounds.
These applications need not be reviewed by
an IRB before an award may be made. How-
ever, except for research exempted or
waived under §46.101(b) or (i), no human
subjects may be involved in any project sup-
ported by these awards until the project has
been reviewed and approved by the IRB, as
provided in this policy, and certification
submitted, by the institution, to the depart-
ment or agency.
8 45 CFR 46