Would You Get Sick in the Name of Science?

January 29, 2025

A person in a hospital gown

(New York Times) – Since the pandemic, drug trials that purposely make people vomit, shiver and ache have become a research area of growing interest. All that’s needed: brave volunteers.

“A lot of people say, ‘Doesn’t this violate the Hippocratic oath?’ or ‘How can a doctor do this?’” said Seema K. Shah, a bioethicist at Lurie Children’s Hospital and professor at Northwestern University in Illinois who studies challenge trials.

Still, challenge trials have become an area of enthusiasm since the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding for trials has poured in. Countries including India, Canada and Australia are beginning to develop the capacity for conducting them. Some researchers have found it easier to recruit volunteers, who are willing to shiver, sweat, puke and ache all in the name of helping others (and earning a little cash). (Read More)