How should a researcher respond if a participant expresses intent to harm themselves or others?

How should a researcher respond if a participant expresses intent to harm themselves or others?

• A. Do nothing
• B. Follow mandatory reporting obligations; assess risk; provide resources; ensure safety; document and inform the IRB as required
• C. Immediately terminate participation
• D. Notify only family members

Answer: (B)

When someone in a study signals intent to harm themselves or others, safety and appropriate legal/ethical duties must guide your response. The best approach is to follow mandatory reporting obligations, assess the level of risk, provide resources, ensure safety, and document and inform the IRB as required. Mandatory reporting obligations require disclosure to the right authorities or professionals when there is a real risk of harm, even if it means breaching confidentiality. Quickly assessing risk helps determine immediacy and needed actions—ask directly about plans, means, timing, and protective factors. Provide resources and concrete next steps, such as crisis hotlines or urgent mental health support, and involve emergency services if there is imminent danger. Implement safety measures appropriate to the level of risk, which could include staying with the participant, removing means, or arranging urgent clinical care. Document what was assessed and done, and inform the IRB or other oversight bodies per policy to ensure accountability and compliance. Doing nothing, or only notifying family members, fails to meet safety and reporting requirements and can leave the participant and others at risk, while simply terminating participation doesn’t address the immediate danger or required disclosures.

When someone in a study signals intent to harm themselves or others, safety and appropriate legal/ethical duties must guide your response. The best approach is to follow mandatory reporting obligations, assess the level of risk, provide resources, ensure safety, and document and inform the IRB as required.

Mandatory reporting obligations require disclosure to the right authorities or professionals when there is a real risk of harm, even if it means breaching confidentiality. Quickly assessing risk helps determine immediacy and needed actions—ask directly about plans, means, timing, and protective factors. Provide resources and concrete next steps, such as crisis hotlines or urgent mental health support, and involve emergency services if there is imminent danger. Implement safety measures appropriate to the level of risk, which could include staying with the participant, removing means, or arranging urgent clinical care. Document what was assessed and done, and inform the IRB or other oversight bodies per policy to ensure accountability and compliance.

Doing nothing, or only notifying family members, fails to meet safety and reporting requirements and can leave the participant and others at risk, while simply terminating participation doesn’t address the immediate danger or required disclosures.