Author: Maggie Frederick
Position: Review Coordinator
Institution: DSHS Human Research Review Section, Washington State
E-mail: fredem@dshs.wa.gov
Submitted Date: December 14, 2007
Published Date: December 17, 2007
This comment was originally posted as a “Reader Response” on the publication date indicated above. All Reader Responses are now available as comments.

"Clinicians who are in health care settings provide treatment; in a clinical trial setting, they are also investigating safety and efficacy of an intervention."

By including the "also", I think this concept is muddied, as is discussed in the article itself. "Treatment" means that the focus is on individual patient well-being, recovery, etc. But the word "also" implies that clinicians who conduct clinical trials are investigating safety and efficacy, AND providing treatment. The distinction between the two roles is more clear without the "also".