Alex O'Meara » video

David Comes to Life by Fucked Up

Alex — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:10:55 +0000

Got turned on to this band and album by my cousin Vincent in Brooklyn. (Yes, my cousin Vinny, ok, got it.) This is what it would be like if early Pink Floyd and the Who got drunk at CBGB, slept together, became pregnant, and had their baby delivered by Lou Reed. Very worthwhile. Cheers.

watch?v=syg6XGbdUkM&feature=relmfu

Clinical Trials Guru

Alex — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:36:37 +0000

These guys are great. They talk about trials in plain English, they are inclusive, open-minded, and genuinely curious and informed about trials. They get into everything from volunteering to the business aspects to whether people answer questions dishonestly just to get into trials. Bookmark this page and check it out frequently. It’s always interesting.

http://theclinicaltrialsguru.com/

Researchers using their children as test subjects

Alex — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:30:13 +0000

A fascinating article, video, and reader comment board at the New York Times online is must-read material for anyone curious about clinical trials. Written by reporter Pam Belluck, the article, “Test Subjects Who Call the Scientist Mom or Dad,” examines the ethical implications and potential impact on children and clinical trials when parents use their own kids as test subjects in trials. Scientists are not hooking their infants up to electrodes and using them as conveniently placed guinea pigs for their own amusement, but the practice raises disturbing questions nonetheless.

“[Researchers] say that their children are reliable subjects, and that they give them access that can allow them to do more in-depth studies,” Belluck says in a video accompanying the article. “Meanwhile, ethicists say that some of these projects are acceptable and even valuable. But they also say that they can raise questions about the impact on the child, on the relationship with the parent, and on the objectivity of the data being collected.”

Readers who wrote in on a comment board tended to be opposed to the concept of using one’s child as a research subject. They were particularly opposed to, as one scientist did, running MRIs on a child. Issues of informed consent, bias, long range physical and emotional effects and other issues were raised in the comments.

Whether you are opposed to the idea or in favor of a practice employed for years by prominent scientists such as Noam Chomsky, one thing is certain: It’s a riveting topic and an article you should definitely check out.

Click here to read the article and access the video and reader board. (Registration for the NYT online is required, but the site is free.)

Video: Interview with Alex O’Meara

Alex — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:56:49 +0000

In this in-depth interview I discuss the business of medical clinical trials and my experience as both a participant and in researching the subject for my upcoming book Chasing Medical Miracles: The Promise and Perils of Clinical Trials.

I touch on many aspects of the book, including the legal and business perspectives, the personal stories of other subjects, my experience researching the book by volunteering as a “guinea pig,” and advice and resources for people on how to learn more about trials

The interview was conducted on a Saturday morning in November in Tucson. The interviewer was Lisa Marie Morrison.