Clinical Testing
New drugs are developed every year thanks to the research efforts of pharmaceutical companies. These drugs often make the lives of people easier and more tolerable to live. But before a drug can reach this level, it must be tested. It is tested on animals and then on people.
But what happens when pharmaceutical companies begin hiring others to both run and review their studies? These “middle men” have an incentive to get people to sign up quickly, compensate them, and get the results to the pharmaceutical company faster. But they do not necessarily put the subject welfare first. In the article “Risky business: Human testing for a profit”, two recent studies have led to severe consequences. Two American companies hired research companies to conduct medical studies in London and Montreal. In London, where they were testing a drug for Leukemia, the individuals participating in the study ended up in the hospital suffering from acute organ failure. The study in Montreal - where one of the volunteers had TB - left 11 people in the hospital with tuberculosis.
Who should be held responsible for these mishaps? Is it the research company's responsibility to conduct better studies? Is it the pharmaceutical company's responsibility to make sure that no harm is done while testing their product? Or do you think that people understand the risk that they are succumbing to when they begin the study? If they are willing to accept the risks involved for the amount of compensation provided, is it a problem at all?
2 comments:
If patients are expected to be willing to participate in the experiment, they must know the possible risks. These products are always tested on animals before humans, so the companies should know about the possible side-effects and not only inform the patients of them but keep careful observation to make sure no serious complications occur. If the testing company does not do this, then they should be held responsible. Likewise, if the pharmaceutical company knows that their testing company is not being careful enough, they should call off the testing. To allow it to continue and to keep the contract with that company could be considered criminal neglect. Surely major lawsuits are not in the company's best interest.
There is no way to place a price on human life and and their welfare. The ultimate goal for all businesses is to make a profit but this should not have to come at the cost of other's well being. If people's health is being hurt, then the pharmaceutical companies should try to find another way to get their testing done quickly so that it is done efficiently as well.
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