Informed consent in the context of communities

This article discusses the history of institutional review boards and the change from a focus on protection of subjects from harm from research to a concern for equitable access to research protocols and potential benefits from participating in a study. The concern about an overemphasis on potential benefits to the detriment of individual subjects is discussed. Finally, the distinction between protection of individuals as it is separate from communities, issues that are raised about obtaining informed consent in communities, as well as the need for trust among researchers, individuals, and communities is examined.