Federal panel considers proposal to create office to oversee research on human subjects

The US National Bioethics Advisory Commission is considering the establishment of an independent agency to regulate the use of human subjects in federally funded research. Commission member Alexander M. Capron proposed creating the agency to avoid the conflicts of interest that ensue when institutions charged with conducting and sponsoring research are also responsible for monitoring the treatment of research subjects. The proposal's critics argue that existing protective regulations are adequate. They assert that establishing an oversight office would further slow research by increasing bureaucracy.