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To the Editor: According to Mr Schaefer and colleagues,¹ individuals are obligated to participate in biomedical research, at least in part, because "the research enterprise overall produces valuable public goods." However, individuals enroll in specific studies, not the "research enterprise overall." The value of public goods produced by studies varies greatly, with important implications for individuals' obligations.

Some research, such as the study presented in the article's opening vignette that investigates treatment for a difficult-to-treat chronic condition, addresses important clinical questions and therefore provides substantial value. Individuals ought to enroll in those studies.

Other research is done primarily to answer regulatory, not clinical, questions. Consider, for example, phase 3 studies such as the industry-sponsored trials typically conducted for novel agents for the treatment of psoriasis. Although many safe and effective treatments for psoriasis already exist, such studies typically have only 2 groups, novel agent vs placebo control.² Those studies are . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Kenneth A. Katz, MD, MSc, MSCE
kenneth.katz@gmail.com
San Diego, California

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