Thanks for many replies from several countries, not listed here to keep
this anonymous.
Most replies were that this work was not paid but undertaken by
academic/public-service statisticians either because it will enhance
their CV or on a "tit for tat" basis when their own organisation
organises a trial. It was also compared with reviewing papers. The
phrase "it is recognised as a part of one’s responsibilities as a
professional academic" describes this but leaves the nice ambiguity as
to whether you are being paid or doing it in your own time. What's the
"visible output" in the era of RAEs?
There was a distinction between "academic/non-commercial studies" and
the "pharma industry." Trials sponsored by the latter are said to
reimburse all committee members at the usual consultancy rates.
The other suggestion was that membership of a Trial Steering Committee
(TSC), Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), or Reseach Ethics Commitee (REC)
is voluntary and distinguished from actual statistical input to the
project, which would be paid consultancy. Another phrasing of this
distinguished being a member of the committee from "servicing" the
committee. That too makes sense until one recalls all the other
examples of shared responsibility meaning no one is actually in charge
(eg banks regulation). How deeply does the statistician on the TSC look
at the design and context to check that the "trial statistician" has not
overlooked some critical feature; how much does the "trial statistician"
assume that noting has been overlooked because the TSC raised no objection?
This topic was discussed in an RSS Professional Statisticians Forum
(PSF) webinar last April for which you can download the audio and slides
(http://www.rss.org.uk/RSS/Events/Online_and_virtual_events/Professional_statisticians__forum/Past_PSF_events/RSS/Events/Online_and_virtual_events_sub/Past_PSF_webinars.aspx?hkey=63f99025-ebd5-4653-af50-f0441cafb2f5).
The slides show members of NHS RECs get expenses but no pay (unless
deemed part of their JD) but it's "good for professional development."
These committees are permanent, rather than being attached to a single
study.
Allan
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