Abstract
Suspected, alleged or known perpetrators should have the same general rights as other research subjects. The duty to report abuse may directly conflict with a suspected, alleged, or known perpetrator’s right to confidentiality and perhaps, a fair defense. As mandatory reporters, healthcare professionals in North America are obligated to convey suspicions or knowledge of abuse to the appropriate authorities, as outlined in provincial or state legislation. This duty generally supersedes confidentiality of personal health information. This must be balanced with prioritizing confidentiality for the research subject who is a suspected perpetrator in order to permit research that will ultimately protect more children from abuse. Though the granting of immunity (or protection from prosecution) may present ethical conflicts for researchers, this practice can allow researchers to obtain information that would otherwise be potentially inaccessible. Without such immunity, suspected, alleged, or known perpetrators may refuse to participate in research or make disclosures for fear of legal consequences.
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Guttmann, K., Shouldice, M., Levin, A.V. (2019). Perpetrator Research. In: Ethical Issues in Child Abuse Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94586-6_7
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