Research Without Prior Consent

Only 2 of 21 screened emergency and critical care trials in England and Wales had protocols specifying notification of bereaved relatives. Approximately 90% of patients admitted to intensive care units lack decisional capacity at the time of admission. There is no legal obligation in adult intensive care to inform bereaved relatives about a deceased patient's research participation. In urgent emergency settings where prior consent is impractical, patients can be enrolled in research through Research Without Prior Consent, also called deferred consent. When patients die before a consent discussion can occur, bereaved relatives may remain unaware that the patient's data were used in research.