Confidentiality

Hospital and Confidentiality

RCT: Dr. L's dilemma

In this particular ethical dilemma, patient Bruce W. is taking a placebo during a drug trial for a drug which is beginning to show promising results. Dr. L's dilemma is a common one for physicians involved in randomized clinical trials. Dr. L must weigh the value of the experimental method and his duty as a scientist with his duty as a physician. As a physician, Dr. L's ultimate responsibility is to his patient. He has an ethical obligation to keep the patient fully informed about treatment options and the risks and the benefits of the medications and treatments administered while the patient is under his care. But as a scientist participating in an experiment with a 'control' group, he has an ethical obligation to keep his patient in the dark about the patient's status as a control group participant. If the drug...
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