PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - T Chambers TI - Questionable ethics--whistle-blowing or tale-telling? AID - 10.1136/jme.23.6.382 DP - 1997 Dec 01 TA - Journal of Medical Ethics PG - 382--383 VI - 23 IP - 6 4099 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/23/6/382.short 4100 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/23/6/382.full SO - J Med Ethics1997 Dec 01; 23 AB - Renal biopsy is a potentially hazardous procedure, generally performed for therapeutic reasons. An open renal biopsy was performed when there appeared to be no accepted clinical indication and its results published in a specialty journal, whose editors declined publication of subsequent correspondence, questioning the ethical propriety of such a procedure. The implications for clinical practice, authors, editors and readers are discussed.