Ethics of clinical trials in dermatology

The ethics of clinical trials have been the subject of numerous previous publications and mandates that are used by institutional review boards on an everyday basis. The protection of human rights and the sanctity of informed consent are critical components of clinical research monitored by human subjects investigation committees throughout our profession. In this contribution, the everyday conflicts of interest that can compromise clinical research in dermatology are presented in a case format. Of utmost importance, the primary interest of the investigating dermatologist should always be the patient at hand and those who could benefit from the research. Navigating the turbulence created by finances, academia, and corporate America is critical. By presenting several case scenarios within the relatively rare disease arena of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, these conflicts can be appreciated. Consequently, understanding these influences in one disease setting permits generalizations to be applied to any dermatologic clinical research.