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Apr 17, 2023
acx

Highlights From The Comments On IRBs

58 min • 8,045 words • 127 comments • 58 likes • podcast (43 min)
Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to comments on his book review about IRBs, covering various perspectives on research regulation. Longer summary
Scott Alexander summarizes key comments on his book review of 'From Oversight to Overkill' about IRBs (Institutional Review Boards). The post covers various perspectives on IRBs and research regulations, including stories from researchers, comparisons to other industries, discussions on regulation and liability, debates on act vs. omission distinctions, potential applications to AI governance, and other miscellaneous observations. Scott provides additional context and his own thoughts on many of the comments. Shorter summary
Apr 12, 2023
acx

Book Review: From Oversight To Overkill

42 min • 5,838 words • 660 comments • 251 likes • podcast (36 min)
Scott Alexander reviews a book critiquing Institutional Review Boards, arguing they now harm medical research more than they help. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews Simon Whitney's book 'From Oversight To Overkill', which critiques the current state of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in medical research. The book traces the history of IRBs from their noble beginnings to their current state of over-regulation and obstruction. Whitney argues that while IRBs were intended to protect research subjects, they now cause more harm than good by delaying or preventing potentially life-saving research. The review discusses several case studies that illustrate the problems with IRBs, and concludes by considering Whitney's proposed reforms and the broader societal trends that have led to this situation. Shorter summary