Which of the following is considered a vulnerable population that requires special consideration by an IRB/IEC?

The correct answer highlights that medical, pharmacy, dental, and nursing students are considered a vulnerable population requiring special consideration by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committee (IEC). This is because these students may be in a position where their academic status, power dynamics, or perceived obligations to the faculty could influence their decisions about participation in research. The potential for coercion or undue influence in educational settings heightens the ethical considerations for conducting research involving these groups.

Furthermore, this population may have reduced autonomy when it comes to understanding the risks and benefits of study participation, as they could feel compelled to participate due to their aspirations or fears of negative academic repercussions. IRBs and IECs are tasked with safeguarding the rights and welfare of participants, and this is especially important for those who may not be fully able to navigate power differentials or understand the complexities involved in research settings, making it imperative to provide additional protections.

In contrast, healthy volunteers, individuals over 65 years old, and university students, while they may share some vulnerabilities, do not necessarily require the same level of specific consideration as students in health-related disciplines, who are often subject to more pronounced influences in an academic context.