[Ethics and clinical trials]

Clinical research is indispensable for determining the safety and efficacy of drugs in human. It provides the scientific basis for rational drug usage. Methodology of clinical trials can raise some ethical issues. As an example the use of a placebo is described in this paper. Generally the ethical issues may be solved by the adequate information of every individual assigned to clinical investigation in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Huriet law. This information must be approved by an ethical committee. Finally an information about the general provisions of clinical trials must be destined to the general public.