Use of personal information for research
 3. (1) A prescribed entity may use personal information about an individual it receives under subsection 52.1 (1) of the Act for research conducted by the prescribed entity if a research ethics board approves the research under subsection (3) of this section and if the prescribed entity meets the requirements set out in subsection (4) of this section. (2) Before conducting the research, the prescribed entity shall submit a research plan, in writing, to a research ethics board that sets out, (a) the affiliation of each person involved in the research; (b) the nature and purposes of the research; (c) the public or scientific benefit of the research that the prescribed entity anticipates; (d) a description of the research proposed to be conducted and the duration of the research; (e) a description of the personal information required and the sources or potential sources of the information; (f) a description of how the personal information will be used in the research, and if it will be linked to other information, a description of the other information as well as how the linkage will be done; (g) an explanation as to why the research cannot reasonably be accomplished without the personal information and, if it is to be linked to other information, an explanation as to why this linkage is required; (h) an explanation as to why consent to the disclosure of the personal information is not being sought from the individuals to whom the information relates; (i) a description of the reasonably foreseeable harms and benefits that may arise from the use of the personal information and how the prescribed entity intends to address those harms; (j) a description of all persons who will have access to the personal information, why their access is necessary, their roles in relation to the research and their related qualifications; (k) the safeguards that the prescribed entity will impose to protect the confidentiality and security of the personal information, including an estimate of how long information will be retained in an identifiable form and why; (l) information as to how and when the personal information will be disposed of or returned; (m) the funding source for the research; (n) whether the prescribed entity has applied for the approval of any other research ethics boards with respect to this research and the response to or status of any such application; and (o) whether the prescribed entity’s interest in the disclosure of the personal information or the performance of the research would likely result in an actual or perceived conflict of interest with the prescribed entity’s other duties. (3) The research ethics board may approve the research plan after considering the matters it considers relevant, including, (a) whether the purposes of the research can reasonably be accomplished without using the personal information that is to be disclosed; (b) whether, at the time the research is conducted, adequate safeguards will be in place to protect the privacy of the individuals whose personal information is being disclosed and to preserve the confidentiality of the information; and (c) the public interest in conducting the research and the public interest in protecting the privacy of the individuals whose personal information is being disclosed. (4) In conducting the research, the prescribed entity, (a) must comply with the conditions, if any, specified by the research ethics board in respect of the research plan; (b) must use the personal information only for the purposes set out in the research plan approved by the research ethics board; and (c) must not directly or indirectly make contact, or directly or indirectly attempt to make contact, with the individuals to whom the personal information relates in respect of that disclosed information, unless the Chief Coroner first obtains the individual’s consent to being contacted. (5) The prescribed entity shall immediately notify the Chief Coroner in writing if it becomes aware of any failure to comply with subsection (4).