PEDIATRICS Vol. 83 No. 1 January 1989, pp. 92
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Student,
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Student,

ON LIMITING HARM

Student

Must great harm often follow as part of the natural course of progress in medicine? I believe the answer. . . is no. While it is unrealistic to believe we can formulate any principles for determining with certainty what will prove therapeutically effective, we can develop ways of limiting the harm done until the answer is obtained. In my view, it is essential that we minimize the harm caused by premature claims of cures, by unbridled ambition, and by uncritically enthusiastic promotion. This end can be accomplished only by establishing procedures for testing innovative therapies before they are broadly used.