TY - JOUR T1 - At the coalface--medical ethics in practice. First, do no harm. JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 377 LP - 378 DO - 10.1136/jme.23.6.377 VL - 23 IS - 6 AU - S Groudine AU - P D Lumb Y1 - 1997/12/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/23/6/377.abstract N2 - 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. ER -