"Exempt" Research.
If "exempt", see Section 3.5.2.
"Minimal Risk" Research.
Research IN WHICH THE RISKS OF HARM ANTICIPATED ARE NOT GREATER,
PROBABILITY AND MAGNITUDE, THAN THOSE ORDINARILY ENCOUNTERED IN DAILY
LIFE OR DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF ROUTINE PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL
EXAMINATIONS OR TESTS. No research involving any item listed as being "at risk" can be
determined to be minimal risk. A department or other unit review committee may determine that a
research proposal submitted, in the judgment of the principal investigator as "minimal risk," is actually
"AT RISK."
"At Risk" Research.
"A subject is considered to be 'at risk' if he/she is exposed to the possibility of harm- physical,
psychological, sociological, or other as a consequence of any activity that goes beyond the application of
those established and accepted methods necessary to meet his/her needs. The determination of when an
individual is 'at risk' requires application of sound professional judgment of the activity in question and
the ethical principles contained herein. Responsibility for this determination resides at all levels of
institutional and departmental review.”
(The Institutional Guide to DHEW Policy on Protection of Human Subjects, Washington, D.C., 1971,
p.2.)
An illustrative, but not inclusive, list of "at risk" procedures would include experiments involving any
aspect, degree, quality, or amount of any of the following:
Deception, mental stress, including subjection to public embarrassment, humiliation, discomfort,
irritation, or harassment, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation, normally ingested or
inhaled materials in excess or less than normal amounts, injection, ingestion or inhalation of
toxic materials, including all drugs, alcohol or placebos; strenuous physical exertion; use of
physical stimuli in abnormal amounts (e.g., noise, vibration, shock, heat, magnetic fields,
radiation); violation of anonymity or confidentiality of subjects and data; OBSERVATIONS
RECORDED ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL WHICH, IF THEY BECAME KNOWN OUTSIDE
THE RESEARCH, COULD MAKE THE SUBJECT LIABLE TO CRIMINAL OR CIVIL
ACTION OR DAMAGE THE SUBJECT'S FINANCIAL OR EMPLOYMENT STATUS; OR
ABROGATION OF ANY CIVIL RIGHT.