I think I might be in trouble - lots of it. I got an e-mail this morning from someone over at NHS ethics asking if I'd still like to proceed with my ethics application, which was started in 2008... The e-mail is below...

I am working through all of the pending studies over at X, and the above study was being set up with for Dr X

The most recent communication dates back to 2008

Shall I mark this project as abandoned or would you like to still seek R&D approval

Many thanks

Best wishes,
X

Erm, I thought I already had ethical approval and I've already conducted most of my research. I think I might just ignore the e-mail, not bother responding and just get on with it, even though I feel like the Fugitive. Of all the things that can happen, it had to be this. It's too late in the game now to start messing with stuff like this. Hmph!

Hey Wally,

Did you ever get sent your ethical approval certificate? It should have a reference number on it which confirms your project has been approved. You need to submit it in the appendices of your thesis (at least I had to submit mine), so it's pretty important. Maybe ask your supervisor, as they should be sent the same correspondence as you.

Did you keep any evidence of communication that said you had ethics approval? - like emails etc?

Yes, I've just found it - the letter of approval - so I'm okay. It's them with their wires crossed. I thought, there's no way I'd have started research without that!

I'd take a few 100 photocopies of that Wal, and maybe a photo of you holding it on location.

Phew! :-)

I reckon you take photo's of you and said letter doing extreme activities and make a book out of it... Extreme Ethical Approval Confirmation... or something to that effect (like extreme ironing...)

I think I'll do something like this next week: http://blog.pch.com/.a/6a00e5536577048833012875ae6b02970c-800wi

Only, I'm holding up an enlarged version of my approval letter, with Dr X and a happy patient holding on to it, smiling at the camera. Take that NHS ethical approval department!

Phew! You're post had me worried for a minute Wally!

(up)

Wally please do that. Honestly, that would actually be hilarious!

hahahahahaha
love
satchi

Hey Wally! I assume you have both ethical approval and R&D approval? It sounds as though they thought you had REC approval but hadn't gone through with the R&D approval- you should have an approval letter for both REC (ethics) and R&D (research & development) approval! Best, KB

holy god i nearly choked on my scone there! glad you're all sorted now though, sounds like something that would happen to me, hence why I only deal with algae and not actual people! Wouldn't trust myself! You should totally do the photo thing though! scan the letter and send it to everyone you know in different places and make an album of Ethics on Tour or something! :)

eeek! this almost makes me want to pull out my ethics letter just to check it exists!
Glad you sorted it. Seems thay need to sort their systems out a bit!