. for one of the hallmarks of human subjects protection is that the data NOT BE CONNECTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT IN A WAY THAT CAN HARM THEM.
actually, no, that's not a great interpretation of the current guidelines. that might be the interpretation of your board, but it is not a universal interpretation of the rules. there is no prohibition on harm, it is a balancing of harm, or a minimal risk of harm in relation to the public benefit. It is not important that the data be connected to the individual, it is that it is private data. published data is very hard to claim as private data. for those very interested in these topics: http://www.irbforum.org/ jeremy hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments http://www.aoir.org The Association of Internet Researchers http://www.stswiki.org/ stswiki http://cfp.learning-inquiry.info/ LI-the journal http://transdisciplinarystudies.tmttlt.com/ Transdisciplinary Studies:the book series