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Controversial Bioethicist Resigns From Celltex

Posted by Unknown on from the tweet-two-for-ethics dept.

ananyo writes "Bioethicist Glenn McGee has resigned his position as president of ethics and strategic initiatives at the stem-cell firm Celltex Therapeutics in Houston, Texas. Yesterday, Slashdot posted a story that suggested Celltex may have administered unproven treatments to several patients. The move comes at the end of a turbulent three months, which has seen McGee blasted by other bioethicists for working at the controversial stem-cell company while also holding the post of editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Bioethics, the most cited bioethics journal in the world. McGee announced that he had resigned, effective 28 February, on Twitter last night — the move came just two weeks after the 13 February press release by Celltex announcing that he would take the position."

3 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. Well... how else are you gona prove them? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Frankly, I dont see the issue with administering unproven treatments to people who would otherwise suffer and die. So long as the risks are made clear to them. The idea of being told I'm going to die in a month, but they cant try a treatment that could cure me because it could kill me is silly.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:Well... how else are you gona prove them? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There many instances of the doctor writing the individual off as almost dead when they live for years afterwards.

      True enough, but it's the best information we have.

      Doctors currently can't predict how long you are going to live accurately enough to legitimize allowing them to give experimental treatment to people they think have a month to live.

      I would disagree. The key is informed consent. Do you carefully explain all of the relevant information? Do you explain where you could be wrong? Do you give an accurate accounting of potential benefits and potential harms? Can the patient understand all of that?

      Informed consent is hard to do, but lacking every potential bit of information is not an absolute barrier.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:Well... how else are you gona prove them? by jhoegl · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Informed consent is hard to do, but lacking every potential bit of information is not an absolute barrier.
      Tell that to Vietnam war veterans.