To the Editor:
—Myles et al. 1have taken on the important task of identifying potential barriers to participation in clinical research in anesthesia. Such data are clearly needed. Despite the need for such data, at least two aspects of this study warrant discussion.
First, whereas the investigators were concerned about the affect of research design on the willingness of patients to participate in clinical trials, some of the hypothetical trials included in their study are ethically troublesome. That is, in most cases, prerandomized trials are arguably unnecessary or unethical. 2These arguments are largely based on the fact that improved enrollment rates over conventionally randomized studies can only be achieved with prerandomized trials when important ethical principles, such as respect for autonomy, are violated. Therefore, it could be questioned whether group 2 (prerandomization to experimental drug, consent for experimental drug) and group 3 (prerandomization to standard drug, consent for standard drug) should have been included in this study. What would have been the authors’ recommendations if the hypothetical recruitment rate in these groups was superior?
Second, the authors suggest that they are conducting empirical research about informed consent for clinical research in anesthesia. Although data regarding the informed-consent process in this context are wanting, this study seems better described as one that focuses on recruitment rather than on informed consent. Regardless, the study itself raises questions about informed consent. According to the consent form that was published with the report, study participants were not informed that they would be randomized to one of five groups (see Explanatory Statement 1, Appendix 1 1). Information about the study design is clearly an indispensable component of meaningful informed consent. This information is needed to respect the autonomy of the subject to make a decision regarding participation. From the published report, it is unclear why this information was not included, and somewhat ironically, whether meaningful informed consent was obtained in a study reportedly about informed consent!
