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Table 2 Members and processes of research ethics committees (RECs), Finland compared to England, Canada (Ontario), and the USA, around 2010

From: Research ethics committees in the regulation of clinical research: comparison of Finland to England, Canada, and the United States

 

Finland

England

Canada

USAa

REC members

    

Expertise

Specified some expertise

“Many-sided”

Specified some expertise

“Many-sided”

Lay-members, at least

Two

One third

One

One

Voluntary

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Payment

Varied, remunerations

No, locum costs covered

Varied, chairpersons usually paid

Varied, members usually modestly

Process

    

Multi-centre project

One committee

One committee

Usually several

Various options, usually several

Time-limit for decisions

3 months for drug trials

2 months for drug trials

No

No

Proportionate review

Not explicitly

Yes, leading principle

Yes

Yes, leading principle

Help researchers in submission

Most RECs

Yes

Yes

Yes

Application formalities

Also members

Secretariat mainly

Secretariat mainly

Secretariat mainly

  1. aPrivate RECs different.