
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Adults with Incapacity (Ethics Committee) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 and come into force on 1st July 2002.
2 
There is hereby constituted an Ethics Committee (“the Committee”) for the purposes specified in section 51 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
3 

(1) The members of the Committee may be appointed by the Scottish Ministers on such terms and conditions as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
(2) No more than  30  members shall be appointed to the Committee at any time.
(3) The membership of the Committee shall, so far as practical, include at least–
(a) one person who has experience in relation to the treatment of adults who are incapable;
(b) one medical practitioner who provides  primary medical services pursuant to Part I  of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 ;
(c) one registered nurse or registered midwife;
(d) one registered medical practitioner having experience in clinical pharmacology;
(e) one   pharmacist registered in Part 1 of the register maintained under article 19 of the Pharmacy Order 2010   or a registered person as defined by Article 2(2) of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 ;
(f) one registered medical practitioner who holds the position of hospital consultant;
(g) one registered medical practitioner having experience in the field of public health medicine;
(h) one member who is registered as a member of a profession to which the    Health Professions Order 2001 applies; and
(i) three lay members.
(4) Each member may be appointed for a period not exceeding 5 years but no member may be appointed for consecutive periods exceeding  12  years.
(5) Where a person has been appointed as a member for a total of  12  years consecutively that person may only be appointed again as a member under paragraph (4) above after the expiration of a period of 2 years from the end of the person’s previous membership.
4 
Subject to regulation 3(4) and (5) above, the Scottish Ministers may appoint, from among the members of the Committee, a Chair,  a Vice-Chair  and up to two Alternate Vice-Chairs of the Committee for such period or periods as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
5 
The Scottish Ministers may pay, to members of the Committee, such expenses related to their membership of the Committee as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
6 
Before approving any research under section 51 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 the Committee must take into account–
(a) the objectives, design, methodology, statistical considerations and organisation of the research;
(b) the relevance of the research and the study design;
(c) the justification of predictable risks and inconveniences weighed against the anticipated benefits for the research participants and future participants;
(d) the suitability of the lead researcher;
(e) the adequacy of the written information to be given and the procedure for obtaining consent; and
(f) the arrangements for the recruitment of research participants.
7 

(1) Subject to the provision of this regulation, the Committee shall consider applications in such manner as it considers appropriate in the circumstances.
(2) No approval of research shall be granted by the Committee unless at least  3  members are present  and those members include–
(a) the Chair, or in the Chair’s absence, the Vice-Chair or an Alternate Vice-Chair;
(b) a member  from among those appointed under sub-paragraphs (a) to (h) of regulation 3(3) above; and
(c) a member  from among those appointed under sub-paragraph (i) of regulation 3(3) above.
(3) The proceedings of the Committee shall not be invalidated by death or other vacancy in its membership.
(4) Application to the Committee for approval of research shall be in such form as the Committee may determine.
(5) The Committee may call for such information from an applicant as it may reasonably require in order to determine the application and may seek such assistance from other persons as it considers necessary for that determination.
(6) The Committee may refer to one or more of its members for report or recommendation on such matters as it considers appropriate in relation to its consideration of an application.
 HUGH HENRY
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh
