I'm Still Pissed We Didn't Do Human Challenge Trials
We don't know who of the dead would still be alive. That's the only reason we're okay with it.
Nations have long mobilised their citizens for war, often requiring the ultimate sacrifice. Yet, nearly four years back, when a pandemic brought the global economy to its knees, the proposition of volunteers deliberately exposing themselves to the virus—for the advancement of treatments and vaccines—sparked ethical debates. Isn't experimentation the cornerstone of progress, especially regarding human health? Informed volunteers, unlike conscripted soldiers, choose to participate. And if compensated, heroes materially gain while contributing profoundly to societal well-being. Despite this, potential vaccines languished in limbo for months, held back by leaders wary of the potential blowback from hastening the pace of scientific discovery—a delay that may have cost countless lives. As governments sanction lethal force, we find ourselves reconciled with it. It begs the question: why do we accept one form of sacrifice so readily but hesitate at another that could save lives
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