[The dual role of the physician: medicine and research]

The physician-researcher is a key figure in the development of modern medicine. Many physicians are involved in bioresearch, be it basic research in the laboratory or in the field of clinical trials, as partners of new drug/device development. A clinical trial is a systematic and controlled study of a medical intervention in human beings. Its main purpose is to answer unique scientific questions as defined in the study's goals and methods. This article summarizes the differences between the traditional role of physician-patient care, and the challenging role as a researcher with its' many advantages.