The Ethics of Clinical Trials

When it comes to fighting disease, clinical trials of new drugs and treatments play a critical role. But balancing the risks of new treatments against our dire need for cures can be tricky, and financial ties between some researchers, FDA advisors, and drug companies can cast doubt on results. Also, did you know more and more clinical trials are being conducted in developing countries where oversight is questionable? Larry Mantle moderates a special panel discussion on the ethics of clinical trials. Panelists are City of Hope Cancer Center President and CEO and former FDA acting Commissioner Dr. Michael Friedman, Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics Co-Director and USC Chief of Geriatric and Internal Medicine Dr. David Goldstein, UCLA Assistant Professor of Medicine and clinical trials researcher Dr. Steven Applebaum, and Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights Health Care Policy Director Jerry Flanagan.