Comment by idopmstuff

> From an ethics standpoint they're responsible for the harm caused to you by new drugs/treatments/etc.

I would argue that from an ethics standpoint they're responsible for the results of their decisions. If they hold a treatment up for an extended period of time because it might have some complications, but with the benefit of hindsight it is clear that it would have saved lots of people who instead died, they bear some responsibility for those deaths.

> If you're familiar with the education of anyone in a medical or medical-related environment then you know it's pounded in their heads to do no harm.

As it should be, but the point is that harm can be done by inaction, not just by action.