Informed consent in biomedical research

A course that teaches critical thinking and awareness of the ethical decision process can help ensure that rapidly emerging technologies have a positive impact on our society. When studying ethics in biomedical engineering, a topic such as research methods for experiments involving human beings cannot be overlooked. A well-constructed informed consent (IC) form is one of the basic building blocks of ethically conducted research because it provides the patient with sufficient information to autonomously make a decision in accordance to their values. Informed consent is one of numerous topics addressed in the ethics course offered at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.