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Table 4 Strategies proposed to handle incidental findings (IF) in approved consent forms

From: Informed consent for MRI and fMRI research: Analysis of a sample of Canadian consent documents

 

Strategies identified (A to M)

Attributes of strategies

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

Subject has the choice to be informed of IF

N

Y

N

?

?

?

N

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Scans will be reviewed by a medical specialist

N

?

N

N

N

Y

?

?

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Subject will be directly informed of findings

Y

Y

Y

Y

?

?

Y

Y

N

Y

N

N

N

Subject's physician will be informed of findings

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

?

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

   Subject has the choice for the physician to be informed

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

?

N

N

N

Y

N

N

   Physician must be informed (subject has no choice)

N

N

N

N

N

N

?

N

Y

Y

N

Y

N

   No mention of option to inform or not physician

N

N

N

N

N

N

?

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Subject will be invited for follow-up scan in case of IF

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

?

N

N

N

N

N

N

Total frequency of different strategies to handle IF

6

2

4

2

1

1

2

1

4

1

4

1

14

  1. Y = yes (attribute is present)
  2. N = no (attribute is not present)
  3. ? = uncertainty or ambiguity in presence of the attribute