Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Oct 1;2(1):165-175.
doi: 10.1089/trgh.2017.0012. eCollection 2017.

Guidance and Ethical Considerations for Undertaking Transgender Health Research and Institutional Review Boards Adjudicating this Research

Noah Adams  1 , Ruth Pearce  2 , Jaimie Veale  3 , Asa Radix  4   5 , Danielle Castro  6 , Amrita Sarkar  7   8 , Kai Cheng Thom  9
Affiliations
Review

Guidance and Ethical Considerations for Undertaking Transgender Health Research and Institutional Review Boards Adjudicating this Research

Noah Adams et al. Transgend Health. .

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to create a set of provisional criteria for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to refer to when assessing the ethical orientation of transgender health research proposals. We began by searching for literature on this topic using databases and the reference lists of key articles, resulting in a preliminary set of criteria. We then collaborated to develop the following nine guidelines: (1) Whenever possible, research should be grounded, from inception to dissemination, in a meaningful collaboration with community stakeholders; (2) language and framing of transgender health research should be non-stigmatizing; (3) research should be disseminated back to the community; (4) the diversity of the transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) community should be accurately reflected and sensitively reflected; (5) informed consent must be meaningful, without coercion or undue influence; (6) the protection of participant confidentiality should be paramount; (7) alternative consent procedures should be considered for TGGD minors; (8) research should align with current professional standards that refute conversion, reorientation, or reparative therapy; and (9) IRBs should guard against the temptation to avoid, limit, or delay research on this subject.

Keywords: community participation; privacy; research ethics; transgender.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

References

    1. Bennett S, Longstaff H. Model Review: A Discussion of a Case Study and Framework to Enhance Research Ethics Review of Research Involving Gender Non-Conforming, Genderqueer, and Transgendered Youth. Paper presented at: CAREB ACCER National Conference, Toronto, ON, May 26, 2016. Available from: www.careb-accer.org/sites/default/files/downloads/model_review.pdf (last accessed April11, 2017)
    1. Reisner SL, Poteat T, Keatley J, et al. . Global health burden and needs of transgender populations: a review. Lancet. 2016;388:412–436 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Heinz M, Bauer G, Marshall Z, Pyne J. Ethical guidelines for research involving trans people. Symposium presented at: Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health Conference; October 2, 2015. (cited 2017 April 11); Halifax, NS
    1. Martin JI, Meezan W. Applying ethical standards to research and evaluations involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations. J Gay Lesbian Soc Serv. 2003;15:181–201
    1. Tebbe EA, Budge SL. Research with trans communities: applying a process-oriented approach to methodological considerations and research recommendation. Couns Psychol. 2016;44:1–29