Use of Human Subjects in Research  

Case Study  

Your colleague at another institution calls you on the phone to ask if you will analyze some human blood samples.

She says that the samples were collected from cancer patients and, currently, are stored in her laboratory freezer.

You are very interested in doing the research analyses. She says she can send them to you by overnight delivery.

1. You encourage your colleague to send the samples as soon as possible. You plan to begin analyzing them as soon as they arrive.
   
   
2. You ask her for more information about the samples.
   
   
3. You say you will consider the matter and call her back after seeking advice, but you are not sure whom to ask for advice.
   
   
4. You tell her not to send the samples because you are not permitted to analyze them unless you first prepare a research protocol and get IRB approval for it. The process is too cumbersome and complicated to bother with.
   
   

This case study continues with an analysis of each of these choices.