The primary purpose of a Certificate of Confidentiality is to:
Answer:
An obvious goal of a CoC (Certificate of Confidentiality) is the legal shield of researchers and subjects from those wishing to get access to the information gathered in the course of research.
Therefore, a legal tool named Certificate of Confidentiality that is provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays a significant role in protecting the patient’s information. This legal document enables the researcher to decline to disclose information about the participants in the study to legal entities of any kind under the pretext of a subpoena or a court order. In this way, CoCs ensure truthful and transparent reporting in the available studies focusing on various sensitive issues that might be impacted by participants’ concerns about social and legal implications or loss of credit.
For instance, in health research involving issues such as HIV/AIDS or substance abuse, a CoC allows a researcher to inform the participant that his/her information will not be disclosed to a third party. Such protection can be especially relevant for assuring the participation of those people who might have some concerns related to stigma and discrimination. Likewise, in social science research involving topics that are not favourable such as the research topic on domestic violence, a CoC enables a researcher to ensure that the participant’s response cannot be disclosed to the police or other organizations even when forced by the court of law. It is important to ensure that people come out to speak about their experiences on issues affecting them.
In genetic research, if the information that is disclosed could result in prejudice in the area of insurance or employment, the CoC compels an additional safeguard for the involved families. It can even play a role in helping with making significant scientific advancements by promoting people’s involvement in the research of specific genetic diseases.
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