What type of consent must be obtained for research involving human subjects?

Informed consent is essential for ethical research involving human subjects. This process ensures that participants are fully aware of the nature of the study, including its purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and their rights. Informed consent is not merely a form to be signed; rather, it is a comprehensive process that involves providing participants with information sufficient to make an informed decision about their participation.

The key element is that consent must be obtained voluntarily without coercion or undue influence. Participants need to demonstrate an understanding of what participation entails, which reinforces their autonomy and respect for individual rights in the research context.

While other forms of consent may be used in specific situations—for example, implied consent in certain observational studies or verbal consent in low-risk research—these do not offer the same level of transparency and information exchange as informed consent. Written consent is often used to document informed consent, but it is the informed aspect that is paramount, highlighting the ethical responsibility researchers have to their participants.