RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Research ethics committees – time for change? JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 534 OP 538 DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.2-6-534 VO 2 IS 6 A1 John Saunders YR 2002 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/2/6/534.abstract AB Research ethics committees have developed over the last 30 years in the UK. As their roles and responsibilities have grown, so too has the complexity of their work. This poses increasing problems which cannot be solved within the current structure. This article suggests that the present large number of volunteer committees be replaced by a much smaller number of fully professional bodies in order to increase speed, efficiency and consistency of working.