There can be role conflicts for allied health professionals working in health care research that involves direct contact with study participants, particularly in relation to maintaining a duty of care. This opinion piece, drawn from the experience of working on an observational study, highlights the need for researchers to clarify their intent and purpose; to be aware of ethical demands; to have an established protocol to deal with the needs of participants arising through the course of the research; and to consider how the process of the study may affect the findings. Ultimately, the individual welfare of study participants should prevail over the aims of the study.
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