Experimenting on humans

Testing medicines on humans

Description

Experimenting on humans involves the deliberate use of human subjects in controlled trials or interventions to test medical, psychological, or social hypotheses. This strategy aims to generate reliable data on safety, efficacy, or behavioral outcomes, directly addressing gaps in knowledge or treatment. Essential actions include designing protocols, obtaining informed consent, monitoring for adverse effects, and ensuring ethical oversight to protect participants while advancing solutions to health or societal problems.

Implementation

Although hepatitis has been acknowledged in its basic form since ancient times, it became the subject of intense investigation during the 1940's when a mass of World War II soldiers fell victim to the virus' rage. British and American physicians, frustrated by the scourge and intent on discovering a cure, conducted experiments on children with Down's Syndrome and prisoners. These highly unethical experiments led to the isolation of the hepatitis virus, the discovery of its transmission through the bloodstream, and the development of the hepatitis B vaccine.