Which statement best describes the value of using delegated review for minimal risk research?

• A. Delegated review is never appropriate for minimal risk research.
• B. Delegated review should be used for minimal risk research to streamline the process.
• C. Delegated review is required for all types of research.
• D. Delegated review should be avoided if you have a risk assessment.

Answer: (B)

Delegated review leverages the ethics board’s authority to have a designated reviewer or subcommittee assess minimal-risk studies. When the potential harms to participants are small and align with what people encounter in daily life, this streamlined process allows ethics oversight to move more quickly without compromising protections. The board still maintains overall accountability, sets the scope and criteria for delegation, and ensures the reviewer has appropriate expertise to judge consent, privacy, and other safeguards. This approach fits the risk-based framework of TCPS 2, where the review intensity matches the level of risk. It’s not about skipping oversight, nor about applying delegated review to every study, and having a risk assessment doesn’t rule it out—it helps determine when delegation is appropriate.