Abstract:
In this commentary on Section 9 (Social and Behavioural Sciences
Research for Health) of the National Ethical Guidelines for
Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants
(2017) by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), we
appreciate that the guidelines clarify that human beings are
“research participants” and not merely “subjects”. Further, we
appreciate and commend the ICMR for: i) contextualising the
guidelines to India’s unique sociocultural and economic situation
and ii) affirming the multidisciplinary nature of health research
and the wide scope of social and behavioural research. However,
we question the prominence given to the difference between
biomedical research and other aspects of health research and
the description of social and psychological risks and discomforts
as minor risks. Finally, we suggest that the guidelines would
express greater value and diversity of the social aspects of health
if they recommended wider representation of these aspects in the
composition of research ethics committees.
