Abstract:
For clinicians wishing to embark on research, the obvious
choice may be to use their large patient pool, already
at their disposal. Gathering information from old files
and records is relatively easy and harmless, as long as
anonymity and confidentiality are maintained. However, if
they choose to conduct investigations on new materials
or techniques, their patients could inadvertently and
unwittingly become study participants, which raises
ethical concerns. This paper aims to clarify the difference
between using novel approaches as part of routine clinical
treatment and conducting clinical research, and explores
the possibilities of straying over the fine dividing boundary,
which could lead to “patient experimentation”.
