Abstract
Research ethics consultation services have been increasingly recognized as a potential valuable mechanism for ethical review of clinical research. In addition, public interest in research ethics has increased. However, the approach and method of research ethics consultation varies with institution, and there are many unresolved issues that need to be addressed, including what the purpose and concept of such services should be and whether core competencies for consultants can and should be defined. When faced with the dilemma of how to implement clinical research while minimizing the risk for subjects, consultants find it difficult to determine whether the clinical research is being reviewed for acceptable and implementation of the research. In dealing with difficult tasks, consultants need to recognize that ethics in research is a public issue, which should be resolved through the public system. Consultants should thus remain independent of other entities and should have a code of professional ethics, for example, maintaining confidentiality, being loyal to the duty, and declaring conflict of interests. This paper sheds light on the issues related to research ethics consultation by considering professional ethics in the field.
