Research

St John of God Hospital Ballarat and Ballarat Health Services operate a collaborative approach in working through ethical decisions on a case by case basis through the hospitals’ Joint Human Research Ethics Committee.

The functions of the joint committee are:

• Promote the principles and ethos of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) Guidelines as promulgated from time to time ensuring that the ethical and legal responsibilities of proposed research reflect the basic ethical values of integrity, respect for persons, beneficence and justice.
• Consider the ethical implications of all proposed research projects relating to human beings, including protocols for the evaluation of new forms of therapy, and determine whether or not they are acceptable on ethical grounds.
• Maintain a register of all proposed research projects and provide for surveillance of research projects until completion so as to be satisfied that they continue to confirm with approved ethical standards.
• Monitor the recommendations of the National Health & Medical Research Council in respect of institutional human research committees and where appropriate, advise the respective Boards of Management of the recommendations of that body.
• Consider ethical issues as requested by the respective Boards of Management or other appropriate sources from time to time.
• Ensure that provisions of the Human Tissue Act 1982 and its successors, the infertility (Medical Procedures) Act 1984 and its successors, and such other statutes that have relevance to ethical considerations are not contravened in the formation of research practices and policies within Ballarat Health Services and St John of God Hospital.

All applications to conduct research are to be submitted to:

Chief Executive Officer
St John of God Hospital Ballarat
PO Box 20
Ballarat VIC 3353

Find out more information about St John of God Health Care’s Ethics Committee