In this issue of Generations Review you will find the new BSG Ethical Guidelines which I hope you will find a valuable introduction to many of the ethical issues that you should take on board when developing research involving older people. In particular we focus on developing an ethical statement for research and the agreement to participate encompassing consent and confidentiality. The guidelines build on work that has been developed in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the Open University (OU). We raise issues that are commonly experienced by those undertaking gerontological research both interactive and observational; consider some features that may arise in participatory research, and establish some basic principles.

I have drawn upon my experience of the OU’s Human Participants and Materials Ethics’ Committee where I have been a member for the past four years. During this time the work of the Committee has grown and grown. Our Chair, John Oates has been active in developing the code of conduct and ethical principles of the British Psychological Society and is a member of COREC (Central Office for Research Ethics Committees). We are a Committee of academic and lay members, and we consider proposals from all academics promising to give a response in five days. This task is shared by everyone and at least three people see each proposal. In recent years we have been considering more post-graduate studies as well as advising academics on assignments set in teaching that include a research component.

Being part of a committee that considers research involving a wide range of people has led me to reflect on how the experience of researchers from different disciplines can inform work with older people. For example there are issues for those working with children that involve parental consent and re-negotiation of consent that may affect participation which raise issues concerning the use of proxies that we may be familiar with. Of course, my other main experience in relation to ethical committees comes from supervising PhD students who wish to work with NHS patients and need to have their work approved. My experience has been with Local Research Ethics Committees (LRECS) and Multiple Research Ethics Committees (MREC). You will see from the guidelines that these systems have changed in recent years. There has been an attempt to simplify the process but many of us will have faced the problems of the complex forms and waiting for clearance.

When developing these guidelines I was aware that new developments are taking place all the time and that we will need to undertake regular reviewing and updating of our guidelines. We would also be interested in hearing from you. You might feel that we have forgotten something; that you have a good example of an ethical issue which may be of value to other members; or that there is in important ethical code or reference that we should read. If you have anything to add please send to Sheila Peace at S.M.peace@open.ac.uk