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Norman S. Abramson, MD; Alan Meisel, JD; Peter Safar, MD
University of Pittsburgh

JAMA. 1986;256(14):1892.

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In Reply.—

We agree with Dr Marsh that there is a difference between research and the use of an experimental therapy to benefit an individual patient. However, the obligation of the physician-investigator in these two distinct settings is still, above all, to benefit the patient. We do not believe that we "slide over" this point; indeed, it is the crux of our article. We strongly disagree that the "definition of research dismisses any immediate idea of a direct benefit to the patient-subject." In fact, the research referred to in our article, and clinical research in general, often involves the study and comparison of therapies, which, by definition, are intended to benefit the patient. This is sometimes referred to as "therapeutic" research, but we agree with Levine¹ that such a term is best avoided and that, instead, we should speak of "research on therapy."

We also take issue with Dr . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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