Which statement describes a proportionate approach to ethical review?

• A. Applying delegated review to minimal risk research and full board review to more than minimal risk research.
• B. Fully board review is required for all research.
• C. Minimal risk research must be reviewed by the vice-president only.
• D. No initial risk assessment is required to determine review level.

Answer: (A)

Proportionate oversight means the level of ethics review matches the study’s risk. For minimal risk research, delegated review by qualified board members or a designated administrator is appropriate and efficient. When research presents more than minimal risk, the full board should review to ensure a thorough assessment of protections for participants and the research’s risks and benefits. This balances protecting participants with avoiding unnecessary delays for low-risk studies.

Why the other options don’t fit: applying full board review to everything ignores the risk-based allocation of oversight; assigning minimal risk review to a single executive (like a vice-president) isn’t how review is typically structured and bypasses appropriate panel input; and skipping an initial risk assessment would remove the mechanism that determines which level of review is appropriate in the first place.