Template general consent for the general further use of coded personal data and coded material for research purposes.

As a researcher, you must ensure that the general consent is implemented in your institution before using it. As per the swissethics statement of 22 February 2019 on the generla consent (link): “Every institution that uses the general consent is obliged to respect national and international norms and standards for the data banks (registries) and biobanks. In this way, the rights of donors who voluntarily participate in the research can be guaranteed.

The general consent can be used in principle for people who are capable of discernment. If a legal representative has to sign in the event of incapacity in the consent procedure, the patient himself has to agree again when he regains his capacity. More detailed information will be provided at a later stage on the specific requirements for the incapacity in the consent procedure and for children and adolescents.” (See in particular the recommendations of unimedsuisse of 12 January 2020 (link)).

The institutions based in the cantons of Ticino, Vaud, Fribourg, Valais and Neuchâtel must consult with the competent Ethics Committee on the valid version of the Consent General before using it.

The following recommendations have been drawn up under the lead of unimedsuisse for the specific application of the general consent in hospitals.

General consent for genomic research

Template general consent for genomic research using whole genome sequencing (WGS). This template is optional and can be used for new projects. It can be used either in addition to the general consent or in addition to the project specific information and consent – whenever WGS is planned as an additional (optional) further use. Important: this document only applies to germline testing (e.g. from blood) and does not apply to somatic testing of tumour tissue.

As a researcher, you must ensure that the general consent for genomic research is implemented in your institution before using it. As per the swissethics statement of 22 February 2019 on the generla consent (link): “Every institution that uses the general consent is obliged to respect national and international norms and standards for the data banks (registries) and biobanks. In this way, the rights of donors who voluntarily participate in the research can be guaranteed.