INSIDE WVSMA
Editor’ s Letter
IRBs, Ethical Statements, and Patient Consent
Linda S. Nield, MD
In this first-quarter issue of 2026, it is an appropriate time to share an update on journal activity from last year and re-emphasize the importance of institutional review board( IRB) oversight, ethical statements, and patient consent in published articles. Analytics from the journal’ s online management platform, Scholastica, indicate that 66 % of manuscripts submitted in 2025 to the West Virginia Medical Journal( WVMJ) were desk rejected. Desk rejections most commonly occurred because authors did not fully adhere to the journal’ s manuscript guidelines and / or associated policies. The manuscript guidelines, including links to all relevant policies, are readily available online and are also printed on the final page of each issue of the WVMJ. 1
Among the more serious forms of non-compliance leading to desk rejection in the past year were omissions of required patient permission statements for case reports and the absence of IRB statements for original research manuscripts. These requirements are not merely procedural; they reflect shared ethical responsibilities to protect patients, research participants, authors, and the integrity of the scientific record.
For case reports, the manuscript guidelines require authors“ obtain written consent from the patient / family and keep it on file and acknowledge that written consent has been obtained in the cover letter and in the permission statement on the title page.” 1 This requirement applies even when no photographs are included, as patient permission is necessary to share medical history in a public forum. Authors are also reminded to refrain from including exact dates of patient care to reduce the risk of patient identification.
For original research submissions, a clarification has recently been added to the manuscript guidelines to ensure transparency for both the editorial team and readers regarding IRB review. The editorial team is not in a position to determine whether a project required IRB oversight; therefore, all original research submissions must include an official IRB statement on the title page and in the methods section. The new clarification states:“ All authors must contact their affiliated IRB prior to conducting research, even in instances of non-human subjects research, so that the IRB makes the official declaration that no IRB oversight is required. Submissions without an IRB statement on the title page and in the methods section will be desk rejected.” 1
When a study does not qualify as human subjects research, the IRB may issue a formal letter documenting that determination. These expectations align with longstanding ethical frameworks and federal regulations governing human subjects research, including the United States Common Rule( 45 CFR 46), 2 and are intended to promote consistent ethical standards across all published research.
At the state level, West Virginia’ s medical schools demonstrate a strong commitment to the ethical conduction of research. Authors and readers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with resources available through the following institutional offices: Marshall University’ s Office of Research Integrity, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’ s Human Research Protections Program, and West Virginia University’ s Research Compliance Administration-Office of Human Research Protections. These offices provide guidance on IRB review, informed consent, investigator training, and protections for vulnerable populations.
In this quarter’ s issue, readers will note that an ethics statement is included on the first page of each scientific article. The WVMJ editorial team appreciates authors’ continued attention to ethical requirements and encourages prospective contributors to review the manuscript guidelines carefully prior to submission. Adherence to these standards helps ensure timely review and supports the journal’ s mission to disseminate high-quality, ethically sound medical scholarship.
REFERENCES
1. West Virginia State Medical Association. Manuscript Guidelines. West Virginia Medical Journal. 2026; 122( 1): 32.
2. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Human Research Protections. 45 CFR 46. Available at: https:// www. hhs. gov / ohrp / regulations-andpolicy / regulations / 45-cfr-46 / index. html. Accessed on January 5, 2026.
Special acknowledgement to Lesley Cottrell, PhD, for her review of this work and the invaluable sharing of her research expertise for more than two decades.
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