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Guidelines and Policies

CSMLS Research Guidelines

The CSMLS Research Ethics Board (REB) has created a document to communicate its research ethics policies, practices and guidelines for researchers, members and interested observers. It is intended to ensure that research carried out by the CSMLS meets high ethical standards and has been developed in compliance with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS).

The CSMLS recommends that all researchers submitting an application to the CSMLS REB complete the TCPS 2 Tutorial Course on Research Ethics (CORE) available for free online from the Government of Canada. CORE provides an applied approach to the guidance provided in TCPS 2. It is a self-paced course that is a media-rich learning experience that features interactive exercises and multi-disciplinary examples. CORE consists of ten modules ranging from Core Principles to REB Review. It is designed primarily for the use of researchers and REB members—though anyone may take this course and print their own certificate of completion.

Policy on Ethical Conduct in Research

1. In recognition of the need for research conduct that respects human dignity and well-being, CSMLS endorses the principles put forth in the TCPS.

2. The CSMLS encourages the individuals involved in its institutional research activities (who include executive and administrative staff, consultants and research associates or assistants) to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct in every aspect of research including applications, proposals, the research itself, reports and publications.

3. The CSMLS includes the following attributes among its expectations for demonstration of the highest ethical standards in research. They originate in the TCPS documentation and are consistent with the high standards expressed in the Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics for the medical laboratory profession produced by CSMLS.

• Respect for the dignity of research subjects and participants.
• Accurate representation of data and information.
• Due acknowledgement of the work of others.
• Maintenance of confidentiality and appropriate use of confidential information.
• Appropriate and responsible use of resources intended for research purposes.
• Dissemination of research findings and implications.
• Commitment to research for the benefit of the medical laboratory profession, for the advancement of Canadian health care and for the creation and translation of knowledge.

4. The CSMLS has created a set of guidelines to encourage increasing awareness of ethical issues and to outline its supportive administrative measures for an ethics review process that embodies the principles expressed in the TCPS document. The object of the CSMLS guidelines is to foster ethical conduct without interfering with freedom of inquiry and without causing unnecessary administrative burdens.

5. Because it is not possible or advisable to anticipate or prescribe ethical issues under all circumstances, this policy statement and the guidelines leave many specific matters untouched. The CSMLS expects its policy and guidelines on ethical conduct in research to evolve as the organization’s research mandate and program develop.

6. Allegations of inappropriate research activity will be taken seriously by the CSMLS following the established practices and procedures of the applicable professional jurisdictions and codes of ethics. Affirmed March 2009