| Sumario: | This article focuses on the ethical integration of environmental sustainability into health-related research, particularly clinical and epidemiological studies involving human subjects. It discusses Sabin Salloch’s argument that research ethics committees, such as institutional review boards (IRBs), should evaluate the environmental impacts of proposed studies alongside traditional ethical considerations. However, the article critiques this proposal as impractical due to the increased administrative burden, lack of expertise on environmental issues among committee members, and the complex, often controversial nature of environmental risk assessments. It suggests that environmental concerns are better addressed earlier in the research process, such as during study design or funding decisions, rather than by local ethics committees.
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