The objective of the multidisciplinary expert Consensus Panel on Research with the Recently Dead (CPRRD) was to craft ethics guidelines for research with the recently dead. The CPRRD recommends that research with the recently dead: (i) receive scientific and ethical review and oversight; (ii) involve the community of potential research subjects; (iii) be coordinated with organ procurement organizations; (iv) not conflict with organ donation or required autopsy; (v) use procedures respectful of the dead; (vi) be restricted to one procedure per day; (vii) preferably be authorized by first-person consent, though both general advance research directives and surrogate consent are acceptable; (viii) protect confidentiality; (ix) not impose costs on subjects' estates or next of kin and not involve payment; (x) clearly explain ultimate disposition of the body.
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Acknowledgements
We thank J. Menikoff, E.P. Richards, R.S. Shapiro and R. Veatch for advising us on the UAGA requirements and OPO practices. We also thank I. Stith-Coleman for her participation as a resource consultant to the panel, and B. Kilburn for preparing notes of the conference. The final guidelines are solely the responsibility of the CPRRD. The CPRRD was supported by grants from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Health System, Emory Office of Research, the National Cancer Institute 1R13CA108423 and William A. Parker, Jr. All authors were members of the CPRRD and participated fully in the drafting and editing of the recommendations.
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The authors are members of the Consensus Panel on Research with the Recently Dead.. Ethics guidelines for research with the recently dead. Nat Med 11, 1145–1149 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1105-1145
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1105-1145
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