Research ethics in real world research

My interest in research ethics began more than 20 years ago when I was a doctoral student seeking research ethics approval for my Grounded Theory study exploring what it was like to live with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. To cut a long story short, my application was rejected on two occasions primarily because the Research Ethics Committee (REC) didn't understand what I trying to do or how I was going to do it. This experience motivated me to get more involved in the ethical review of research and now, more than 20 years later, I spend considerable amounts of my time thinking about research ethics and the ethical conduct of research, as a researcher, as a research ethicist and as the Chair of an NHS REC.