Under what condition can "emergency waivers of consent" be applied?

Emergency waivers of consent can be applied in life-threatening situations where obtaining consent from a participant is not feasible. This typically occurs when immediate action is necessary to prevent serious harm or death, and there is not enough time to obtain consent from the participant or their legally authorized representative. In such scenarios, regulations allow researchers to proceed with the study intervention or data collection to potentially save the participant's life or prevent significant harm, while ensuring that ethical standards are adhered to where possible.

The rationale behind this is to balance the urgency of the situation with the respect for individual autonomy. However, there are usually specific criteria and protocols that must be followed to ensure that the use of an emergency waiver adheres to ethical guidelines and regulations. It is crucial that full informed consent is sought as soon as feasibly possible after the emergency situation has been addressed.