5G Challenges of Ethics Committee Functioning During Pandemic and A Case Study of 40 Hospitals
Keywords:
Ethics Committee, Challenges, Pandemic, Functioning, IEC and IRBAbstract
This study investigates the challenges faced by ethics committees in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic and the 5G network, focusing on their operational functioning. The research involves a comprehensive examination of the ethical considerations and decision-making processes encountered by these committees within the high-speed, low-latency environment of 5G. Additionally, the study presents a case analysis encompassing 40 hospitals, shedding light on the practical implications and experiences of ethics committees during the pandemic. By delving into these challenges and the case study, this research aims to provide insights into the intersection of healthcare ethics, technological infrastructure, and crisis management, offering valuable perspectives for future preparedness and ethical governance in similar contexts. The EC is a self-regulating body that is primarily responsible for guaranteeing the protection of experimental study individuals` privileges, security, and welfare. It guarantees that all ethical components of project concepts are thoroughly examined by experts and ensures this investigation is conducted in an unbiased and objective manner. The EC faces several challenges, especially during the pandemic, the prolonged lockdown, and the unforeseeable advent of the pandemic avoiding the EC of an SOP to deal with the situation. While there is a specified procedure for amending SOPs, which involves meeting in person, there is no provision for online meetings to amend SOPs, project reviews, and/or decision-making. Other issues facing the EC are the operation of the Office, there is reduced availability to deal with urgent regulatory problems for office workers, and dealing with epidemic-related programs for analysis which needs urgency. This study aims to identify the challenges faced by the EC in different hospitals across India. Also, identify any common challenges faced across the hospitals and derive lessons learned and best practices for future pandemic responses. We analyze the decision-making processes of ethics committees in these hospitals, especially in situations where rapid decisions were required.
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