PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Groudine, S AU - Lumb, P D TI - At the coalface--medical ethics in practice. First, do no harm. AID - 10.1136/jme.23.6.377 DP - 1997 Dec 01 TA - Journal of Medical Ethics PG - 377--378 VI - 23 IP - 6 4099 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/23/6/377.short 4100 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/23/6/377.full SO - J Med Ethics1997 Dec 01; 23 AB - When a physician acts as both doctor and researcher conflicts can develop. When a doctor does not know whether a patient is taking active drug or placebo, any new medical problems can result in a dilemma. Is the patient's suffering a side effect of the medication or is this a new medical problem? Mrs W's case demonstrates the problem that can occur when the physician is blinded in the name of research.