The use of biological products in surgery: a consenting conundrum
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of biological products in surgery: a consenting conundrum
IRAS ID
238412
Contact name
K Jolly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
18/LO/0597, REC Reference
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 12 days
Research summary
There has been an increase in products commonly used in surgical procedures such as packs, grafts and haemostatic agents. Some of these have become standard practice for common procedures, e.g. the use of gel foam in ear surgery. A significant proportion of these contain extracts of animal products e.g. gelatin from pig or cow, extracts from fish and even some products being derived from humans such as human fibrin for haemostatic agents.
In current practice, the use of these products is not discussed with patients prior to surgery as it is implied that patients will not object the the use of them. However, the reality is that we do not know whether a small group of patients will object to their use in surgery taking into account their ethical, dietary or religious beliefs.Our study aims to see if patients would object to the use of these biological products and whether we should be consenting/ discussing the use of these products with all patients prior to surgery.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0597
Date of REC Opinion
12 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion