The ethical aspects of designing a healthcare waste management research proposal.

This paper reviews some of the ethical implications of researching in the field of healthcare waste management. The ethical aspects of research need to be considered from the outset in any project that involves people, and it is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that no-one is harmed physically, psychologically or socially as a result of the research. In addition to this responsibility, in the UK, where research involves National Health Service (NHS) staff or NHS premises current protocol requires that specific ethical approval is required before it can be undertaken. To illustrate the issues raised by ethical considerations, the paper details the process of applying for ethical approval from the host institution, the University of Northampton, and the NHS. Both the barriers encountered during the process and positive aspects of working within the research governance framework are considered. Issues of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality are discussed and placed in the context of research into waste management behaviours. Finally, a view is put forward on how the stringency of the system of applying for NHS ethical approval is currently affecting the research agenda in healthcare waste management in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]