Which element is NOT described as part of extra protections for informed consent in vulnerable populations?

• A. Simplified language
• B. Independent consent advocates
• C. Ongoing re-consent
• D. Oversight to prevent coercion

Answer: (A)

Safeguards for vulnerable participants in informed consent focus on ensuring voluntariness and ongoing understanding when decision-making may be affected by power dynamics or impaired capacity. Independent consent advocates provide an objective perspective outside the research team to help assess risks and voluntariness. Ongoing re-consent ensures that consent remains informed if study conditions or personal circumstances change. Oversight to prevent coercion creates an external check against pressure or undue influence. Simplified language, while a valuable aid to comprehension for many participants, is a general communication best practice rather than a targeted extra safeguard specific to vulnerability. It supports understanding but isn’t listed as one of the additional protections designed specifically for vulnerable populations.