Independent Ethics Committee

**Semantic type:** Population Group

**Definition:** A separate body such as an institutional, regional, national or supranational committee, made up of medical/scientific professionals and non-scientific members, whose responsibility it is to ensure the protection of the rights, safety, and well-being of human subjects involved in a clinical trial. It tries to provide public assurance of that protection by reviewing and approving the trial protocol, the suitability of the investigator(s), facilities, methods, and materials to be used in documenting informed consent of the trial subjects. (ICH)

**Synonyms:** - IEC - independent ethics committee (IEC)