Ensure Participants Know Their Rights

Participant rights are a critical component of the information research participants must understand before they can give a valid IC. Any RTM assisting participants in the IC process must ensure that participants granting an IC understand not only the research for which they are volunteering, but also their rights as a volunteer participant. Occasionally, a participant will ask to skip over the "long explanation" and "just sign the form". This not only shortchanges the participant; but it also puts the RTM, PI, and institution at risk. The obligation to be fully informed is a participant responsibility, but the research team can never intentionally under-inform the participant during the IC process.