What is a waiver of consent in research?

A waiver of consent in research is a provision that allows researchers to conduct studies without obtaining the traditional informed consent from participants, under certain circumstances. This can occur when the research involves minimal risk to participants or when obtaining consent may not be feasible or practical, such as in studies utilizing existing records or data.

The specific criteria that justify a waiver of consent often include instances where, for example, the rights and welfare of participants are not adversely affected, and if the research couldn't be conducted without a waiver and the research involves no more than minimal risk to participants. This makes option B the correct answer, as it accurately describes the nature and purpose of a waiver of consent in the context of research ethics.

Other choices do not capture the essence of a waiver of consent. While eliminating the IRB from review might imply oversight is bypassed, it does not reflect the necessary ethical considerations for participant protection. Compiling consent forms, mentioned in another option, relates to the administrative aspect of consent rather than the waiver context. Lastly, granting permission to use participant data retrospectively does not encompass the conditions under which consent might be waived for ongoing research activities.