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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."

9 of 429 comments (clear)

  1. India by sterno · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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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    1. Re:India by mrxak · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't get the tone of the submission. First it seems like they're calling the company irresponsible (and it certainly sounds as if they are), but then they seem to be blaming the "test victims" for joining the study, and then they make some rather outrageous predictions. Whoever submitted this article, take a deep breath, try to calm yourself down, and understand that situations like this are rare. And drug companies aren't going to start using prisoners and whatnot for test subjects. I don't really like big pharma either, but I'm not that paranoid. You know, I bet they have a great pill for that... (kidding of course)

    2. Re:India by Total_Wimp · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm glad someone sensible is posting. By the way, after calming down and taking a big breath, please stop to realize that the whole purpose of drug testing is to, well, test. The drug companies should be doing as much as possible to assure the safety of the drug before the test, but not everything can be forseen. This is why we do testing in the first place.

      The drug companies don't get any bennefit from producing drugs that kill people. They don't do this on purpose.

      TW

  2. It's horrible, but by Weaselmancer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

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    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
  3. I know this is not a serious news site by Tim+C · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  4. Victim bashing by springbox · · Score: 5, Insightful
    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.

    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?

  5. Re:Not Funny- this is actually happening by EndlessNameless · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.
  6. Re:Goes Hand in Hand With... by pianoman113 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

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    Free as in speech, free as in beer, or free as in lunch?
  7. Disgusting submission, even for Slashdot by John+Nowak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.