ABSTRACT
In Tallinn official ethics committees for research started in 1992, although from 1989 there were ad hoc committees created just for clinical trials at different hospitals. Similarly, in Tartu University Hospital, the location of the only medical faculty in Estonia, an ethics committee for clinical trials started in 1990 which has extended its approval to other research projects with human subjects when needed. Research ethics committees (RECs) work with documents which are mandatory for the principal investigator to submit for review: the complete project; study protocol; researchers' CVs; informed consent forms for patients; insurance certificates; data protection issues. A special REC for the Estonian Genome Project (EGP) was established according to the Human Genes Research Act that entered into force on 8 January 2001. All few RECs are independent bodies coordinated by the Council of Ethics located at the Ministry of Social Affairs.
