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Abstract
As acknowledged in the literature, public consultation related to biobanks has been
largely oriented to assuring and informing rather than seeking considered input. In
April and May of 2007, the authors participated in running a deliberative public engagement
event in British Columbia, Canada, which sought to enhance public input related to
the governance of biobanks. The topic of the event was 'Biobanking in British Columbia
(BC)' and at the event a random-digit dialed demographically stratified sample of
21 participants deliberated on what values and interests ought to be considered in
the regulation and use of biobanks for health research. In this paper, we report results
related to debate over the place of informed consent in biobank research. Drawing
on a pre/post-survey and qualitative analysis of event transcripts, we show that participants
indicated strong support for biobanks, for a general reduction in concern for withdrawal
of samples, and placed a strong emphasis on the need for review of biobanks research
that is independent of funders and researchers. In this context, there was persistent
disagreement about when consent was required for new research activities.