I use this pattern a lot. Return the single record corresponding to the query.

def get_unique_record(self, sql, parameters = None, quiet = False, locked = False):
        '''I use this pattern a lot. Return the single record corresponding to the query.'''
        results = self.execute_select(sql, parameters = parameters, quiet = quiet, locked = locked)
        assert(len(results) == 1)
        return results[0]