Updated 4/12/18 mk
“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 SUBJECTS FINANCIAL OR EMPLOYMENT STATUS; OR ABROGATION OF ANY CIVIL RIGHT.