60 Minutes on Amgen
Several people have asked me whether we can post a link to the therapeutic misconception / compassionate exemption story that aired on Sunday's 60 Minutes. Here you go.contribute a comment
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GDNF does work,
and the poor patients are suffering because Mr. Caplan
[the bioethicist]
thinks he is God.
I am so glad he is not!
I know it works and why wouldn't
amgen want it not to work,
it is because you can't make as much money on a cure...
Mr.Caplan
if it were es cloning or glow in the dark mice,
you would be cheering!
do ethicist have morals?
or compassionate care?
- by lavenderlou on Sep 14, 2005 at 6:06 AM | link
The story quotes Caplan as saying that there have been bad effects noted in animals, though, which does put this in a slightly different light, no? If it turns out that this treatment is actually bad for patients, and that Amgen knew it and kept making it available anyway, then they'd be in big trouble.
If you want to be mad at somebody, Art Caplan's not the best target. It's easier to pick a small target, I guess, but the real problem is that we Americans have decided that it's ok for health care (including drugs) to be a free-market commodity. The upshot is that (1) those who can pay will be healthier, other things being equal, than those who can't, and (2) useful health interventions that don't stand to make a substantial profit will not be developed or implemented, because there is no incentive for business to do so.
- by Sue on Sep 15, 2005 at 2:38 PM | link