Why audits sometimes need ethics approval (and why that's ok)

The short answer: most audits touch human data in one way or another. Think lab notebooks, emails, sample logs, or a trainee’s documentation habits. Even small details can indirectly identify someone, and ethics committees are there to make sure everyone’s privacy and wellbeing stay protected.

Audits can also reveal things no one expected – missing consent forms, inconsistent documentation, process gaps. These aren’t scandals; they’re normal parts of research life. But they are sensitive, and having ethics guidance in place helps ensure that issues are handled constructively, not punitively.

Another perk of early ethics approval? Flexibility. Sometimes an internal audit uncovers insights people want to publish or share. You often can’t get ethics approval after the fact, so planning ahead keeps doors open.

The upside to bringing your potential audit to your local ethics committee: audits are usually considered low-risk, and many institutions offer quick, streamlined pathways for ethics review.  

So when you (or a trainee if you are a DSRT) start planning an audit, it’s worth making the ethics check part of the routine – it’s often beneficial to have a good idea of how your local research and ethics committee operates, their timeframes, and the forms required for low-risk audit activities versus research. An ethics check is simple upfront, helpful later, and better for everyone involved.

Written by Dr Jennifer Crawford, fellow with ethics interest on the Scholar Role Sub-committee.