§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps so as to ensure that there is set up, in all hospitals in which clinical research is carried out, a medical ethical committee which must approve all research projects affecting patients, and that all such committees contain some members who are not medical practitioners and some who are medical practitioners themselves not engaged in clinical research.
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§ Dr. OwenEthical committees are already in existence. Guidance to health authorities in 1968 stated that these should be composed of a group of doctors, including some with experience of clinical investigation. Following recommendations made by the Royal College of Physicians, further guidance was issued last year stating that a lay member should be appointed to each committee. Area health authorities were asked to consider choosing lay members of their committees from appropriate community health councils.