IRBs were established to prevent the excesses of medical research that mistreated and exploited the innocent and often indigent. Institutional review boards have taken on a life of their own though, exercising far too much influence over what research questions can be asked and what research methodologies are acceptable. It is not surprising that researchers charge the IRB process with violating academic freedom. This has been especially the case for social sciences, but in this account a clinical researcher suggests the very same silliness and intrusiveness is applied in medical research. IRBs have taken an authoritarian, we know better than you do attitude that in the end likely does as much harm as good.
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