Graduate Student Ethics Writing Competition Winner: IRB Waivers of Parental Consent for LGBTQ+ Adolescents

What are the ethical challenges of involving LGBTQ+ adolescents in health- related research studies without parental consent? Serena Wasilewski, MA, the winner of this year’s APA Ethics Committee’s Graduate Student Ethics Writing Competition, will discuss ethical considerations related to research with LGBTQ+ adolescents. Considerations for obtaining IRB waivers of parental or guardian consent for LGBTQ+ adolescent participants will be explored. A vignette will be used to illustrate the questions researchers should consider when determining whether to request waivers. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with members of the APA Ethics Committee regarding the winning paper.

• Explain the ethical considerations for requesting IRB waivers of parental or guardian consent in health-related research studies involving LGBTQ+ adolescents.
• Utilize a series of questions as a guide when requesting IRB waivers of parental or guardian consent in research studies involving LGBTQ+ adolescents.

• Serena Wasilewski, MA
• Evelyn A. Hunter, PhD
• Tiffany Chenneville, PhD
• Nancy A. Haug, PhD
• Katie Harster, PhD