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Parexel Destroys Immune Systems, Not Liable
A reader writes: "The four TGN1412 test victims learned recently that they have no detectable t-cells, which makes it "likely" (read certain) they will suffer from numerous diseases and truncated lifespans. It has been determined that Parexel was negligent in its aftercare of the victims. The victims have already suffered severe injuries such as gangrene requiring the amputation of all toes and three fingers (without toes you cannot remain standing or walk, btw) and endured unimaginable agony. But it seems Parexel, despite having the moral responsibility for the outcome of its incompetence and the financial ability to pay proper restitution (estimated yearly revenue of $750 million) is ignoring the victims and using the legal system to avoid liability. The lessons are that $4000 is not worth risking your life over, that that is what you are doing if you are foolish enough to volunteer for medical testing whatever promises you receive not withstanding, and that if you are so foolish you will be left to die by the company responsible without legal recourse should things go wrong. In other words, only an ignorant would sign up for medical testing. I predict a decline in voluntary test subjects, and a rise in the use of prisoners and other 'disposable' human subjects."
Actually a lot of drug testing is happening in India these days. Lots of capable doctors there and lots of people they consider disposable. Good times.
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I work at a company in the medical field, and we have to go through various tests and the like to make sure things are safe. But I consider the shirking of responsibility on that company as "Seriously Fucked Up". They should step upto the plate and do everything that they are capable of. If I were one of the people working on that project, I can't describe the feeling I would have knowing that happened.
If you think education is expensive, you should try ignorance -- Derek Bok, president of Harvard
What part of "testing" didn't the subjects understand before they volunteered?
I'm not trying to troll, honest. But injecting something brand new into your body before anyone knows exactly what it does is fantastically dangerous. That's probably why you have to sign the waver that's longer than your arm, I'd imagine.
Still, IMHO the company should help these poor people out even though they don't legally have to. I'm sure the reason why they're not isn't greed so much as a fear of litigation. If they pay them any money, that looks like an admission of guilt.
Whole situation with liability and lawsuits in this country these days pretty much sucks. It hurts more people than it helps.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
Ok ... I didn't RTFA, so I'm not going to comment on that.
First, let me state that it sucks to become a "medical victim" no matter how you got there. By my rant below, I don't want to take away from anything they're going through.
But, I'm going to take exception to the submitter's parenthetical comment "(without toes you cannot remain standing or walk, btw)", and call utter shenanigans.
1. I know someone who lost half a foot in a m'cycle accident. He walks without a perceptible limp, and can run too ... but looks a little funny running, and can stand very well on his half-foot, while holding the other (good) foot in the air. He is not an athlete, or posessiong of any special abilities ... just an "average joe" who had a bad accident.
2. Stiltwalkers don't have toes at the bottom of thier stilts. They walk and stand fine.
3. People with prothetic legs don't have toes. They stand pretty good too. Some of them even run phenominally well with those snazzy running legs. No toes there.
So ... yes, it REALLY SUCKS what these people are suffering due to medical incompetence, but you don't need to add your own un-informed flavor to the headline.
3.
It's not my fault! It was this way when I got here.
But could we tone down the flamebait in the submissions a notch?
People volunteer for medical testing all the time. Most of the time, nothing (serious) goes wrong. Yes, this time, something fucked up big time; a regrettable tragedy, and certainly cause to examine the rules and regulations surrounding testing on humans. But the reason it was such big news is that it's such a rare occurence. If it happened all the time, it wouldn't have been headline news.
I refuse to believe that this was the best submission on the subject. The submittor is entitled to his opinions, of course, but the place for those opinions is down here with the rest of us, not on the front page.
Still, got to keep those ad impressions coming somehow, I guess.
It's official. Most of you are morons.
This was obviously something the submitter put in, and it's pretty disgusting that it would make the front page. If this were a comment I have a feeling it would have been modded down to oblivion. How many times is it necessary to call these people ignornat and foolish?
- i believe there's some evidence that TeGenero overlooked/minimised some adverse reactions in primate subjects: if so, they should be hung out to dry by every court in the US and Europe.
Meanwhile - this is exactly how drugs get developed *all the time*. You can't pick and choose. If you saw some of the benefits that drugs in this class are have for (literally) millions and millions of people around the world, perhaps you might say it's worth it. Potential treatments for cancer, alzheimer's disease, the list is endless.
After all, these people are volunteers - we couldn't possibly develop new drugs without someone stepping forward to try them. Compare this count (four people, seriously injured) to, say famous cases where too little testing was done: DDT, thalidomide spring to mind.
Before you wail on 'evil drug' companies treating people as 'disposable', give me one half sensible alternative to regulated drug trials.....
'This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it' - Eeyore
As long as it means I get effective drugs without risking my neck as a test subject, it is in my own best interest to pursue this method of testing.
And, no, this post is not a troll. Deem me "cold-hearted" if you will, but I am most serious in admitting my joy that others will be exposed to the danger while I am able to reap the benefits.
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According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
3. Stockholders in said businesses want more and more money so the businesses can't afford to take personal responsibility for the things they do to people
If you have a 401k or a pension plan you are a stockholder.
4. The majority of all politicians in the United States government is unabashedly comprised of stockholders and they make the laws
Most Americans are "unabashedly" stockholders.
You are morally responsible for eating too much fast food, not the people who sold it to you. Take responsibility for your own actions. Stop being a douche.
Free as in speech, free as in beer, or free as in lunch?
Wow something that blows away all T-cells in your body for good leaving the victims alive but consuming huge amounts of health care just to stay remain alive.
I didn't RTFA but if this is something that can be put into drinking water, we're all in trouble. I hope I don't get super negative Karma for posting this.
You're evil, but at least you're honest about it. I can respect that.
You are reading a copy of my copyrighted post.
You have the attitude, but lack the front-end compassion.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
This submission is absolutely disgusting. There is no reason to insult the victims of such a terrible tragedy. Furthermore, the people that take part in these things generally do so because they are in desperate need of money. To call them ignorant and say people who do such things deserve what they get is perhaps itself the most ignorant thing I've seen on Slashdot (and no, I'm not new here). Not only are these people just doing what they need to do to provide for their families, but they're also allowing all us of to live better lives through what they're doing.
This is such ignorant, offensive crap, that I'd support banning the submitter from the site. There is no place here for such rampant stupidity, insensitivity, and complete lack of basic reasoning skills. Furthermore, Hemos needs to be kicked in the balls for permitting such a thing. If such nonsense was posted as a comment here, that would be terrible enough, but that this is being put forth as if it were fact (or anything other than delusional ranting for that matter) is insane and beyond irresponsible.