Ethical and research dilemmas arising from a questionnaire study of psychological morbidity among general practice managers

A questionnaire-based research project enquiring into the psychological hea lth of general practice managers found that 5% of managers admitted to suic idal ideas. This paper explores the moral issues raised when research condu cted at a distance uncovers information about participants which indicates that they may he at increased risk of harm. It examines whether the authors of such studies have responsibilities towards their research participants beyond those of analysing and properly interpreting the data supplied to th em. The paper is an exercise in self-reflection and self-criticism; not all the questions posed and explored by it can be answered definitively. Impli cations for planning studies of this kind are discussed.