NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands was one of the first European countries to have developed and implemented ethics committees. Hospital ethics committees started appearing at the beginning of the 1980s and grew until nowadays many public hospitals and nursing homes have one. There are very rarely private hospitals in the Netherlands, so these do not need to be considered. A reason put forward for the ease in which ethics committees were incorporated and accepted is that the Netherlands has a 'natural affinity to deliberative structures and consultative bodies' due to its political structure.
Hospital ethics committees (HECs), which review clinical ethics, are separate to Medical Ethics Review Committees (METCs), which review medical research protocols. Research involving human subjects has been legally regulated since 1999 via the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO), which stipulates two types of committee involved in the assessment of research protocols involving humans - the METCs and the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO). All research involving human subjects must be assessed in advance by a committee. This can be undertaken by a METC or the CCMO, depending on the type of research.
Research covered by the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) must be submitted to an accredited Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC) for approval before it is carried out. The MREC reviews research protocols in accordance with the rules laid down in the WMO. Research subject to the WMO cannot be carried out without a positive judgement. A single MREC is accountable for all sites in the Netherlands. The following weblink provides an overview of submission documentation:
In parallel, a study notice, as applicable, is made on-line to the Central Commission on Human Research.
The following is a list of authorized Medical Research Ethics Committees in the Netherlands:
* METC Noord-Holland
p/a Medisch Centrum Alkmaar
Alkmaar
* Nederlands Kanker Instituut
Protocol Toetsingscommissie
Amsterdam
* Academisch Medisch Centrum
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Amsterdam
* Independent Review Board
Independent Review Board
Amsterdam
* Slotervaartziekenhuis en Reade
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Amsterdam
* Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Amsterdam
* Stichting Beoordeling Ethiek Biomedisch Onderzoek
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Assen
* METC Zuidwest Holland
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Delft
* Catharina-ziekenhuis
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Eindhoven
* Medisch Spectrum Twente
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Enschede
* Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Groningen
* Atrium MC, Orbis MC en Hogeschool Zuyd
METC Atrium-Orbis-Zuyd
Heerlen
* Zorggroep Noorderbreedte en ziekenhuis de Tjongerschans
Regionale Toetsingscommissie Patiëntgebonden Onderzoek
Leeuwarden
* Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Commissie Medische Ethiek
Leiden
* Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht / Universiteit Maastricht
Medisch Ethische Commissie
Maastricht
* VCMO
Verenigde Commissies Mensgebonden Onderzoek St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Meander Medisch Centrum en Diakonessenhuis
Nieuwegein
* Independent Review Board Nijmegen
Independent Review Board
Nijmegen
* CMO Regio Arnhem-Nijmegen
Commissie Mensgebonden Onderzoek
Nijmegen
* Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Rotterdam
* Toetsingscommissie Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Rotterdam
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Rotterdam
* METOPP
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Tilburg
* Sint Elisabeth Ziekenhuis
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Tilburg
* Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Utrecht
* METiGG
METC Geestelijke gezondheidszorg
Utrecht
* Máxima Medisch Centrum
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Veldhoven
Wageningen Universiteit
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Wageningen
* Isala klinieken
Medisch Ethische Toetsingscommissie
Zwolle
