Who is responsible for approving a written consent form?

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for approving a written consent form because its primary role is to protect the rights and welfare of research participants. When a research study involves human subjects, the IRB reviews the study's protocols to ensure that participants are fully informed about the nature of the research, any potential risks, and their rights. This includes the examination of the consent form to confirm that it adheres to ethical standards and regulations.

Approval from the IRB ensures that the consent process is clear and that participants are provided with the necessary information to make an informed decision about their participation. This is crucial for maintaining ethical standards in research, as it helps to ensure that individuals voluntarily agree to participate without any undue influence or coercion. The involvement of the IRB in this process is a fundamental aspect of upholding ethical research practices, thereby reinforcing the importance of informed consent in research involving human subjects.