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Publication Guidance for developing ethical research projects involving children(Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 2012) Department of Children and Youth Affairs Working Group on Research Ethics; Cleary, Anne; Archer, Peter; Bond, Laurence; Curtis, Ruth; Fallon, Maureen; Felzmann, Heike; Hanafin, Sinéad; Keeneghan, Celia; Lynch, Aine; Madden, Deirdre; Redmond, Adrian; Meaney, Bairbre; |~|The aim of this guidance paper, produced by a working group on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), is to advise on good practice principles for undertaking research with children (defined in Ireland as people below the age of 18). The need to protect children when they are involved in research is self-evident, but it has taken a relatively long time to translate this notion into policy and practice. The history of research endeavour includes many unethical practices involving children from intrusive and invasive procedures, to the over-investigation of some populations. Organisations caring for children sometimes regarded them as a ready source of research data with little regard to the ethical issues involved. The voices of children were rarely heard in research and their potential to contribute to its development ignored. The objective of this document is to provide ethical guidance for developing research projects involving children across a range of disciplines, from medicine to the social sciences. The impetus came firstly from a Department of Children and Youth Affairs commissioned report on ethical issues and children s research, which identified a lack of standardisation in this area (Felzmann et al, 2010). Another incentive was to use the knowledge developed from ethical deliberations relating to the Growing Up in Ireland study. Part of this project has been the development of rigorous ethical procedures to both protect children and facilitate their participation in the research process. The Working Group was largely formed from the GUI Research Ethics Committee and, as with the latter, participants came from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds research, clinical, ethical/legal, as well as representatives from agencies serving children. It also included DCYA officials Dr. Sinéad Hanafin and Bairbre Meaney. Each committee member brought specific skills, but the success of the Working Group was due to the exceptional commitment they gave to the work, including the drafting of this guidance. The objective of the group, and this national guidance, is to safeguard children within research and to assist researchers to do better, more creative investigations with and for children.Publication The detention of voluntary and involuntary patients in mental health facilities: the ethical considerations(Department of Health, 2015) National Advisory Committee on Bioethics; Green, Andrew; Bradley, Colin; Gordijn, Bert; Hull, Richard; Kennedy, Harry; Madden, Deirdre; McAuley, Adam; McCarthy, Joan; McQuillan, Regina; Sheikh, Asim A.; Smith, David; |~|It has been estimated that one in four people will experience some form of mental ill-health in their lifetime.1 This can range from feelings of anxiety, to depression, to more severe mental health problems, such as psychosis. Most people can be treated in the community by their GP or other mental health professional. However, some people will require more intensive treatment, including admission to a psychiatric hospital. Many people will consent to hospitalisation, while others may not wish to be admitted and may be detained involuntarily. A third group of people may appear to be satisfied with their treatment plan and although deemed “voluntary” may, in reality, lack the decision-making capacity to provide explicit consent.Publication Specific informed consent for blood transfusion: the ethical considerations(Department of Health, 2013) National Advisory Committee on Bioethics; Green, Andrew; Bradley, Colin; Gordijn, Bert; Hull, Richard; Kennedy, Harry; Madden, Deirdre; McAuley, Adam; McCarthy, Joan; McQuillan, Regina; Sheikh, Asim A.; Smith, David; |~|The Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly T.D., established the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics in March 2012. The task of this Committee is to advise the Minister on the ethical and social implications of scientific developments in human medicine and healthcare.