Ethical guidelines and reviews
At the Faculty of Medicine, a wide variety of research is conducted: basic research, clinical research, and research in the fields of health and nursing. The researchers and postgraduate students of the Faculty constantly face questions and situations which require ethical deliberations concerning test subjects and the public as well as collaboration with other researchers.
Responsibility
All researchers are personally responsible for ensuring that their research conforms to good research practice and established ethical principles.
The head of the research/education group is responsible for ensuring that all staff with research and research-related duties receive information about the rules that apply regarding good research practice, and for continuously following up on the application of decisions and guidelines.
The head of department or equivalent is responsible for ensuring that heads of research groups, heads of education groups and chief supervisors of postgraduate students are continuously informed and involved in discussions about current decisions and guidelines concerning research ethics.
It is the responsibility of the head of department or equivalent to take active steps to prevent ethical challenges in research activities from developing into situations where misconduct and fraud may occur. If, nevertheless, such a situation should arise, it is the responsibility of the head of department or equivalent to inform the Dean about the case in question.
The Dean makes decisions on the handling and necessary measures to take in cases where situations arise concerning research fraud and misconduct in research.
There is a long list of documents with recommendations and guidelines. More information is available on the university webpage on research ethics:
Research ethics (Lund University Staff Pages)
The Research Ethics Council of the Faculty of Medicine
Medical research is a prerequisite for well-functioning and evidence-based healthcare. In order to achieve this and for research to enjoy society's trust, it is important that the faculty's research lives up to the highest ethical standards. As part of this process, the Faculty of Medicine has established a Research Ethics Council.
Information about the chairman and members of the Research Ethics Council
Medical research is a prerequisite for well-functioning and evidence-based healthcare. In order to achieve this and for research to enjoy society's trust, it is important that the faculty's research lives up to the highest ethical standards.
As part of this process, the Faculty of Medicine has established a Research Ethics Council. The council's tasks include:
- supporting the faculty management in research ethics issues of a principled nature,
- stimulating ethical discussion and raising awareness of important issues, and
- providing general advice or guidance to employees regarding ethical aspects of their research.
- The council is also free to express its opinion on questions of research ethics of a general nature.
- Other issues may arise around which the council itself is tasked with establishing the form of its mandate.
Topics dealt with by the Research Ethics Council:
- clinical studies
- preclinical trials: protocol and the Committee on Animal Experiments
- experimental research in the laboratory
- data management
- information security
- authorship and publishing
- scientific error
- cooperation with industry
- dual use
- international cooperation
- conflicts of interest
- guidance
Topics not dealt with by the Research Ethics Council:
- registration and handling of ethical misconduct
- legal assistance
- help with conflict management
- help with writing
Useful documents
Overview of research ethics
Overview of research ethics at Lund University and in Sweden (PDF 2,4 MB, new tab)
About authorship of scientific publications
Authorship on scientific publications (Word 18 kB)
About management of suspected research misconduct
Useful links
Ethical review
In Sweden, the law demands that certain research must undergo ethical review before it can begin. The review is carried out by the national Ethical Review Authority, located in Uppsala.
The Swedish Ethical Review Authority's website
The ethical review of the use of laboratory animals at Lund University is conducted by the Malmö/Lund Animal Testing Ethics Board.
Animal Testing Ethics Committees (in Swedish, Swedish Board of Agriculture website)
Information and help at Lund University regarding ethical review:
Ethical review (Lund University Staff Pages)
Ethical misconduct
Deviations from good research practice (Lund University Staff Pages)
Research and animal research ethics in general
Research ethics and animal research ethics (Lund University Staff Pages)
Questions concerning Region Skåne
The Ethical Council in Region Skåne may be contacted for issues around ethical principles. This council does not handle individual research projects or patient matters.
Website for healthcare providers in Skåne, in Swedish
For individual cases, there are appointed persons within each unit/part of the organisation.
Questions specific to SUS
At Skåne University Hospital (SUS) there is an ethics council. It acts as an advisory and facilitating capacity regarding ethical aspects of activities within SUS. The council is chaired by the hospital’s chief medical officer.
etikradsus [at] skane [dot] se