How much of invasive clinical research is still ethically justified?

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 96; no. 8; pp. 1145 - 1146
• Main Author: Grzybowski, Andrzej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.08.2012; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Cerebrospinal Fluid - physiology; Electrophysiology; Ethics; Female; glaucoma; Human subjects; Humans; Informed consent; Low Tension Glaucoma - diagnostic imaging; Low Tension Glaucoma - physiopathology; Male; medical education; Myelin Sheath - diagnostic imaging; Optic Disk - diagnostic imaging; optic nerve; Optic Nerve - diagnostic imaging; Optic Nerve - physiopathology; Patients; retina; Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; China
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301832

[...]the presently discussed studies, similar to previous reports from China in which LP were used in glaucoma and ocular hypertension patients, raise a general ethical concern and question: how much invasive procedure could we propose to the patient in clinical research settings (with no therapeutic context of the procedure as it was in both cases)?