RT Article
T1 Questionable Requirement for Consent in Observational Research in Psychiatry
JF Nursing ethics
VO 14
IS 1
SP 41
OP 53
A1 Hem, Marit Helene
A1 Heggen, Kristin
A1 Ruyter, Knut W. 1955-
A2 Heggen, Kristin
A2 Ruyter, Knut W. 1955-
LA English
YR 2007
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1779445083
AB Informed consent represents a cornerstone of the endeavours to make health care research ethically acceptable. Based on experience of qualitative research on power dynamics in nursing care in acute psychiatry, we show that the requirement for informed consent may be practised in formalistic ways that legitimize the researcher's activities without taking the patient's changing perception of the situation sufficiently into account. The presentation of three patient case studies illustrates a diversity of issues that the researcher must consider in each situation. We argue for the necessity of researchers to base their judgement on a complex set of competencies. Consciousness of research ethics must be combined with knowledge of the challenges involved in research methodology in qualitative research and familiarity with the therapeutic arena in which the research is being conducted. The article shows that the alternative solution is not simple but must emphasize the researcher's ability to doubt and be based on an awareness of the researcher's fallibility.
K1 research ethics
K1 psychotic patients
K1 power dynamics in nursing care
K1 Participant Observation
K1 Informed Consent
K1 acute psychiatry
DO 10.1177/0969733007071357