 The problem with the distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic research so defined is that research itself often is defined as a practice designed to collect generalizable knowledge and conducted by investigators who intend to achieve this end (Levine 1988). On this definition, all research qualifies as non-therapeutic. Conversely, most investigators intend to benefit their participants in some way or other. Perhaps they design the study in a way that provides participants with clinically useful findings, or they provide minor care not required for research purposes, or referrals to colleagues. Even if proponents can make good on the distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic research in theory, these practices appear to render it irrelevant to the practice of clinical research. More importantly, it is not clear why investigators’ responsibilities to patients, or patients’ claims on investigators, should vary as a function of this distinction. Why think that investigators are allowed to expose patients to some risks for the benefit of others, but only in the context of research that is not designed to benefit the participants? To apply this proposed resolution to pediatric research, why might it be acceptable to expose infants to risks for the benefit of others, but only in the context of studies which offer the infants no chance for personal benefit?