Informed Consent Policy

Research subjects must have been properly instructed and have indicated that they consent to participate by signing the appropriate informed consent paperwork. Authors may be asked to submit a blank, sample copy of a subject consent form. If consent was provided verbally instead of in written form, or if consent could not be obtained, the authors must explain why in the manuscript, and the use of verbal consent or the lack of consent must have been approved by the appropriate IRB or ethics committee. More information about patient privacy, anonymity, and informed consent can be found in the privacy and confidentiality guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).