What is the regulatory framework governing consent to research in Quebec?
• The Civil Code of Quebec establishes consent to research as mandatory (Art. 11). Article 22 states that consent must be obtained to allow a part of the body (such as an organ, tissue or blood) removed as part of care to be used for research purposes. This rule is important because DNA may be extracted from any cell in the living body. Article 24 provides that consent to research must be given in writing. • The Statement of Principles on the Ethical Conduct of Human Genetic Research Involving Populations (RMGA, 2003) emphasizes the importance of consent in population genetics research projects. • The Statement of Principles: Human Genome Research (RMGA, 2000) provides guidelines for informed consent.
