What statement best describes the independence requirement for REB members?

• A. REB members must be independent from the research team.
• B. REB members must all be researchers within the same department.
• C. Independence is not required.
• D. The chair must always be a clinician.

Answer: (A)

Independence of REB members from the research team is essential to ensure decisions about risk, benefit, consent, and privacy are made without any pressure or bias from those conducting or sponsoring the study. When a member has direct involvement with the research team, or stands to gain from the study, their ability to judge things impartially can be compromised. Therefore, REB members should be independent from the research team and disclose any potential conflicts; if a conflict exists, they should recuse themselves from that project. This freedom from ties to the researchers helps protect participants and maintain trust in the ethics review process.

The other statements don’t fit because they impose incorrect or overly restrictive rules. REB members do not need to be all researchers from the same department, independence is indeed required, and there is no universal rule that the chair must be a clinician.