Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent, Draft, 55390-55391 [2011-22883]

Download as PDF 55390 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2011 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [Docket No. HHS–OPHS–2011–0014] Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent, Draft Office for Human Research Protections, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, and the Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled, ‘‘Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent.’’ The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent OHRP’s and FDA’s current thinking on this topic and will supersede OHRP’s November 15, 1996 guidance document entitled ‘‘‘Exculpatory Language’ in Informed Consent’’ and question number 52 in FDA’s January 1998 guidance entitled, ‘‘Institutional Review Boards Frequently Asked Questions—Information Sheet Guidance for Institutional Review Boards and Clinical Investigators.’’ The draft guidance is intended primarily for institutional review boards (IRBs), investigators, sponsors, and funding agencies that may be responsible for the review, conduct, or oversight of human subject research conducted or supported by HHS or regulated by FDA. DATES: Submit written comments by November 7, 2011. ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for copies of the draft Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent document to the Division of Policy and Assurances, Office for Human Research Protections, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your request, or fax your request to 301–402–2071. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for information on electronic access to the draft guidance document. You may submit comments identified by docket ID number HHS–OPHS– 2011–0014, by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Enter the above docket ID number in the ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID field and click on ‘‘Search.’’ On the next page, click the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ action and follow the instructions. emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:37 Sep 06, 2011 Jkt 223001 • Mail/Hand delivery/Courier [For paper, disk, or CD–ROM submissions]: Irene Stith-Coleman, PhD., Office for Human Research Protections, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments received, including any personal information, will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Stith-Coleman, PhD, Office for Human Research Protections, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852, 240–453–6900; e-mail Irene.StithColeman@hhs.gov or Sara Goldkind, M.D., Office of Good Clinical Practice, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., WO32–5110, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301–796–8342; e-mail Sara.Goldkind@fda.hhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: and FDA have been actively working to harmonize the agencies’ regulatory requirements and guidance for human subject research. This draft guidance document was developed as part of these efforts. OHRP and FDA believe that it will be most helpful to the regulated community to issue a joint guidance document which will clearly demonstrate the agencies’ harmonious approach to the topic of what language could be considered exculpatory and thus prohibited in informed consent versus what language could be acceptable in informed consent. OHRP and FDA are issuing this as draft guidance because the agencies have revised and clarified what constitutes exculpatory language in informed consent and therefore prohibited under 21 CFR 50.20 and 45 CFR 46.116 in response to numerous questions and comments from the IRB and research communities. The draft I. Background guidance includes a detailed discussion OHRP and FDA are announcing the about what OHRP and FDA consider to availability of a draft guidance entitled, be exculpatory language, examples of ‘‘Guidance on Exculpatory Language in informed consent language that OHRP Informed Consent.’’ The draft guidance and FDA would consider to be is intended primarily for institutional acceptable, and examples of informed review boards (IRBs), investigators, consent language that OHRP and FDA sponsors, and funding agencies that may would consider to be exculpatory. be responsible for the review, conduct, This draft guidance is part of the or oversight of human subject research Information Sheet Guidance Initiative, conducted or supported by HHS or announced in the Federal Register of regulated by FDA. This guidance, which February 3, 2006 (71 FR 5861), which is available on the OHRP Web site at describes FDA’s intention to update the https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/newsroom/rfc/ process for developing, issuing, and index.html and the FDA Web site at making available guidances intended for https://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/ IRBs, clinical investigators, and SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/ sponsors. Known as ‘‘Information default.htm, is intended to assist IRBs in Sheets,’’ these guidances have provided making the required regulatory recommendations to IRBs, clinical determinations when reviewing investigators, and sponsors to help them research under 21 CFR 50.20 and 45 fulfill their responsibilities to protect CFR 46.116 by providing human subjects who participate in recommendations regarding what research regulated by the FDA. The language is considered to be exculpatory Information Sheet Guidance Initiative is under HHS and FDA regulations, and intended to ensure that the Information thus inappropriate to include in Sheets are updated, consistent with the informed consent. The draft guidance FDA’s good guidance practices (GGPs). should also help clinical investigators As part of the initiative, which will be and sponsors better understand the ongoing, the agency plans to rescind regulatory requirements as to what Information Sheets that are obsolete, language is permissible to include in revise and reissue guidances that informed consent. The draft guidance, address current issues, and develop new when finalized, will represent OHRP’s guidance documents as needed. The draft guidance is being issued and FDA’s current thinking on this topic consistent with FDA’s GGPs regulation and will supersede OHRP’s November (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, 15, 1996 guidance document entitled, when finalized, will represent OHRP’s ‘‘ ‘Exculpatory Language’ in Informed and FDA’s current thinking on this Consent’’ and question number 52 in topic. It does not create or confer any FDA’s January 1998 guidance entitled, ‘‘Institutional Review Boards Frequently rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind OHRP or FDA or the Asked Questions—Information Sheet public. An alternative approach may be Guidance for Institutional Review used if such approach satisfies the Boards and Clinical Investigators.’’ To enhance human subject protection requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. and reduce regulatory burden, OHRP PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2011 / Notices Dated: August 29, 2011. John R. Bucher, Associate Director, National Toxicology Program. II. Electronic Access Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the document at https:// www.regulations.gov, https:// www.hhs.gov/ohrp/newsroom/rfc/ index.html, or https://www.fda.gov/ ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/ RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm. [FR Doc. 2011–22823 Filed 9–6–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES III. Request for Comments OHRP and FDA are making their joint draft guidance document available for public comment. The guidance document will be finalized and issued after the public comments have been considered. Dated: September 1, 2011. Jerry Menikoff, Director, Office for Human Research Protections. David Dorsey, Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [FR Doc. 2011–22883 Filed 9–6–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150–36–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Notice of Postponement of Release of Draft NTP Monograph on Potential Developmental Effects of Cancer Chemotherapy During Pregnancy and Panel Meeting To Peer Review Draft Monograph Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health. AGENCY: Notice of postponement of draft NTP monograph and peer review panel meeting. ACTION: The NTP is postponing the release of the Draft NTP Monograph on Potential Developmental Effects of Cancer Chemotherapy during Pregnancy and the peer review panel meeting. Release of the draft monograph was scheduled for September 9, 2011, and the meeting for October 19–20, 2011; both were announced on August 17, 2011 (76 FR 51034). Information about rescheduling the release of the draft monograph and the peer review will be announced in the Federal Register and posted on the NTP Web site at https:// ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36639. emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Dr. Lori White, NTP Designated Federal Officer, (919) 541–9834, whiteld@niehs.nih.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:37 Sep 06, 2011 Jkt 223001 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [60-Day–11–0765] Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404–639–5960 and send comments to Daniel Holcomb, CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS–D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to omb@cdc.gov. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Proposed Project Fellowship Management System, OMB No. 0920–0765 exp. 03/31/2014— Revision—Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office (SEPDPO), Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (OSELS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Background and Brief Description SEPDPO requests an additional three years to continue CDC’s use of the online Fellowship Management System (FMS) for its electronic application and PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55391 directory processes that allow individuals to apply to fellowships online and tracks applicant and alumni information; and a revision that will allow public health agencies and organizations to submit fellowship assignment proposals electronically, using FMS. The mission of SEPDPO is to provide leadership in public health training and education, and manage innovative, evidence-based programs to prepare the health workforce to meet public health challenges of the 21st century. Professionals in public health, epidemiology, medicine, economics, information science, veterinary medicine, nursing, public policy, and other related professions seek opportunities, through CDC fellowships, to broaden their knowledge, skills, and experience to improve the science and practice of public health. CDC fellows are assigned to state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies; federal government agencies, including CDC, and HHS operational divisions, such as Indian Health Service; and to nongovernmental organizations, including academic institutions, tribal organizations, and private public health organizations. FMS provides an efficient and effective way for processing fellowship application data, selecting qualified candidates, maintaining a current alumni database, documenting the impact of the fellowships on alumni careers, and generating reports. This proposed revision will provide a secure site within this existing electronic system for designated employees of public health agencies and organizations to submit fellowship assignment proposals electronically. Designated employees of public health agencies or organizations will answer a standardized set of core questions within FMS about the proposed assignments, including the type of public health agency or organization submitting the proposal; proposed fellow activities, including training and opportunities for service and collaboration; and how the fellow will be supported, including the type and extent of mentorship and supervision the fellow will receive. This revision enhances FMS to include a function that will result in a standardized process for submitting and reviewing host assignment proposals across fellowships. The electronic assignment proposal process that FMS provides optimizes the matching of qualified fellowship candidates with host sites and will result in an optimal fit between fellows and their assignments — ultimately leading to E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55390-55391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22883]



[[Page 55390]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Docket No. HHS-OPHS-2011-0014]


Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent, Draft

AGENCY: Office for Human Research Protections, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, and the Food and Drug 
Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA), are announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled, 
``Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent.'' The draft 
guidance, when finalized, will represent OHRP's and FDA's current 
thinking on this topic and will supersede OHRP's November 15, 1996 
guidance document entitled ```Exculpatory Language' in Informed 
Consent'' and question number 52 in FDA's January 1998 guidance 
entitled, ``Institutional Review Boards Frequently Asked Questions--
Information Sheet Guidance for Institutional Review Boards and Clinical 
Investigators.'' The draft guidance is intended primarily for 
institutional review boards (IRBs), investigators, sponsors, and 
funding agencies that may be responsible for the review, conduct, or 
oversight of human subject research conducted or supported by HHS or 
regulated by FDA.

DATES: Submit written comments by November 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for copies of the draft Guidance on 
Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent document to the Division of 
Policy and Assurances, Office for Human Research Protections, 1101 
Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852. Send one self-
addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your 
request, or fax your request to 301-402-2071. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for information on electronic access to the draft 
guidance document.
    You may submit comments identified by docket ID number HHS-OPHS-
2011-0014, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Enter the above docket ID number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID field and 
click on ``Search.'' On the next page, click the ``Submit a Comment'' 
action and follow the instructions.
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier [For paper, disk, or CD-ROM 
submissions]: Irene Stith-Coleman, PhD., Office for Human Research 
Protections, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Comments received, including any personal information, will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Stith-Coleman, PhD, Office for 
Human Research Protections, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, 
MD 20852, 240-453-6900; e-mail Irene.StithColeman@hhs.gov or Sara 
Goldkind, M.D., Office of Good Clinical Practice, 10903 New Hampshire 
Ave., WO32-5110, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-8342; e-mail 
Sara.Goldkind@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    OHRP and FDA are announcing the availability of a draft guidance 
entitled, ``Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent.'' The 
draft guidance is intended primarily for institutional review boards 
(IRBs), investigators, sponsors, and funding agencies that may be 
responsible for the review, conduct, or oversight of human subject 
research conducted or supported by HHS or regulated by FDA. This 
guidance, which is available on the OHRP Web site at https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/newsroom/rfc/ and the FDA Web site at https://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm, is intended to assist IRBs in making the required 
regulatory determinations when reviewing research under 21 CFR 50.20 
and 45 CFR 46.116 by providing recommendations regarding what language 
is considered to be exculpatory under HHS and FDA regulations, and thus 
inappropriate to include in informed consent. The draft guidance should 
also help clinical investigators and sponsors better understand the 
regulatory requirements as to what language is permissible to include 
in informed consent. The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent 
OHRP's and FDA's current thinking on this topic and will supersede 
OHRP's November 15, 1996 guidance document entitled, `` `Exculpatory 
Language' in Informed Consent'' and question number 52 in FDA's January 
1998 guidance entitled, ``Institutional Review Boards Frequently Asked 
Questions--Information Sheet Guidance for Institutional Review Boards 
and Clinical Investigators.''
    To enhance human subject protection and reduce regulatory burden, 
OHRP and FDA have been actively working to harmonize the agencies' 
regulatory requirements and guidance for human subject research. This 
draft guidance document was developed as part of these efforts. OHRP 
and FDA believe that it will be most helpful to the regulated community 
to issue a joint guidance document which will clearly demonstrate the 
agencies' harmonious approach to the topic of what language could be 
considered exculpatory and thus prohibited in informed consent versus 
what language could be acceptable in informed consent.
    OHRP and FDA are issuing this as draft guidance because the 
agencies have revised and clarified what constitutes exculpatory 
language in informed consent and therefore prohibited under 21 CFR 
50.20 and 45 CFR 46.116 in response to numerous questions and comments 
from the IRB and research communities. The draft guidance includes a 
detailed discussion about what OHRP and FDA consider to be exculpatory 
language, examples of informed consent language that OHRP and FDA would 
consider to be acceptable, and examples of informed consent language 
that OHRP and FDA would consider to be exculpatory.
    This draft guidance is part of the Information Sheet Guidance 
Initiative, announced in the Federal Register of February 3, 2006 (71 
FR 5861), which describes FDA's intention to update the process for 
developing, issuing, and making available guidances intended for IRBs, 
clinical investigators, and sponsors. Known as ``Information Sheets,'' 
these guidances have provided recommendations to IRBs, clinical 
investigators, and sponsors to help them fulfill their responsibilities 
to protect human subjects who participate in research regulated by the 
FDA. The Information Sheet Guidance Initiative is intended to ensure 
that the Information Sheets are updated, consistent with the FDA's good 
guidance practices (GGPs). As part of the initiative, which will be 
ongoing, the agency plans to rescind Information Sheets that are 
obsolete, revise and reissue guidances that address current issues, and 
develop new guidance documents as needed.
    The draft guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's GGPs 
regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when finalized, will 
represent OHRP's and FDA's current thinking on this topic. It does not 
create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate 
to bind OHRP or FDA or the public. An alternative approach may be used 
if such approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes 
and regulations.

[[Page 55391]]

II. Electronic Access

    Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the document at 
https://www.regulations.gov, https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/newsroom/rfc/, or https://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm.

III. Request for Comments

    OHRP and FDA are making their joint draft guidance document 
available for public comment. The guidance document will be finalized 
and issued after the public comments have been considered.

    Dated: September 1, 2011.
Jerry Menikoff,
Director, Office for Human Research Protections.
David Dorsey,
Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning, U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-22883 Filed 9-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-36-P
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