Position papers and guidelines from swissethics

Guidance document: How to write comprehensible patient information and consent forms for research

The comprehensibility of the patient information and consent forms is a prerequisite for good, fair and correct information concerning participation in clinical trials and research projects. The example-based guideline succinctly lists the essential aspects needed for a comprehensible information document: the information must be provided in a step-by-step, coherent and descriptive manner using simple words and layman-comprehensible sentences, as well as appropriate visualizations.

Deutsch
1.1
updated: 09.02.2023
Français
1.1
updated: 09.02.2023
Italiano
1.1
updated: 09.02.2023
Guiding principles for registries in human research

Guiding principles of swissethics for registries in human research

Deutsch
1.0
updated: 14.02.2019
Français
1.0
updated: 14.02.2019
Ethical Framework for Responsible Data Processing in Personalized Health Research

Developed by the Swiss Personalised Health Network and endorsed by the Swiss Biobanking Platform and the ETH Domain Strategic Focus Area on Personalised Health and Related Technologies.

Both data and human biological material are addressed in this new version of the Framework.    

English
2.0
updated: 07.05.2018

Health Data Ethics Map and Course

Health Ethics & Policy Lab, ETH Zurich created the Health Data Ethics Map to explore health data ethics responsibilities and rights. The map was created based upon the Swiss Personalized Health Network's «Ethical Framework for Responsible Data Processing in Personalized Health Research.»

Link to the Health Data Ethics Map.  Link to the Course.

Incidental findings

Guideline for handling incidental findings in medical research

Deutsch
1.1
updated: 26.02.2019
Français
1.1
updated: 26.02.2019
Italiano
1.1
updated: 26.02.2019
Monetary contributions to patients participating in research projects

An ethically justified guide

Deutsch
1.0
updated: 09.03.2016
Français
1.0
updated: 09.03.2016
Experimental therapy versus research projects under obligation of submission to an EC

swissethics guideline: Experimental therapy versus research projects under obligation of submission to an EC

Deutsch
1.1
updated: 25.04.2016
Français
1.1
updated: 25.04.2016
Research projects in neuroscience

Guideline of swissethics for projects in neuroscience

Deutsch
1.5
updated: 29.03.2016
Français
1.5
updated: 29.03.2016
Technical Assistance Systems

swissethics guideline: Technical Assistance Systems

Deutsch
2.1
updated: 28.10.2021
Français
2.1
updated: 28.10.2021
Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) with medicinal products in Switzerland
English
2.0
updated: 22.12.2022
Time for consideration

Guideline of swissethics for the time for consideration between information and consent

Deutsch
1.0
updated: 10.11.2017
Français
1.0
updated: 10.11.2017
Research on healthy children and adolescents

Guideline of swissethics about research on healthy children and adolescents

Deutsch/Français
n/a
updated: 01.01.2017
Addressing the issue of sexuality, contraception and pregnancy with adolescents of child bearing potential in biomedical research
English
December 2021
updated: 18.01.2022
Conception and application of an electronic informed consent (eIC)

Guideline of swissethics on the conception and application of an electronic informed consent (eIC) in clinical trials, according to ClinO

English
1.1
updated: 23.08.2019

Guideline of swissethics on the conception and application of an electronic informed consent (eIC) in clinical trials, according to ClinO and to HRO

Valid from November 1, 2024.

English
2.1
updated: 25.08.2024
Guideline on the retention period of biological material and personal data of further use projects without consent

Guideline on the retention period of biological material and personal data of further use projects without the informed consent of the persons concerned (according to Art. 34 HRA) 

Deutsch
1.0
updated: 10.12.2017
Français
1.0
updated: 10.12.2017
Italiano
1.0
updated: 10.12.2017
Pregnancy and magnetic resonance examinations in scientific studies

Advice by Prof.Dr.med.et Dr.sc.nat.ETH C.Boesch and PD Dr.med.A.Kuhn

Deutsch
n/a
updated: 06.09.2011
Quality assurance, or research project subject to approval?

swissethics guideline to assist in the distinction between quality assurance projects (quality assurance and quality control studies) and research projects requiring approval

Deutsch
1.0
updated: 04.02.2020
Français
1.0
updated: 04.02.2020
Italiano
1.0
updated: 04.02.2020
English
1.0
updated: 04.02.2020
Guidance document for the researchers for the conduct of basic research projects
English
2.0
updated: 01.06.2021
Guidance document on the use of food stuffs and food supplements in research

Guidance document of swissethics on the use of food stuffs and food supplements in research

English
1.0
updated: 07.12.2020
Recommendations on research adapted to sex and gender

Sex and Gender in research involving humans according to the Human Research Act (HRA): Issues to consider.

This document reflects the swissethics recommendations on sex and gender in research involving humans according to the HRA.

English
1.0
updated: 17.04.2024

Sex and Gender in research involving humans according to the Human Research Act: Recommendation for the ethical review of research projects.

English
1.0
updated: 17.04.2024
Involvement of patients and research participants in ethics review processes

Framework for patient / participant representation in ethical review processes in clinical research

English
1.0
updated: 08.07.2024
Français
1.0
updated: 29.09.2024