Science & Technology Flashcards
What is ‘thalidomide’?
A drug that was prescribed to pregnant women between 1957-1961 to help combat morning sickness
Enormous breakthroughs in medicine such as:
Penicillin (Sir Alexander Fleming)
Mass production of the drug had a major impact on reducing the number of deaths during WW2 perhaps as many as 15% of all casualties among Allied armed forces
What is phocomelia?
Side effect of taking thalidomide drug. Shortened or absent limbs
Penicillin
An antibiotic - Sir Alexander Flemming
Mass production of the drug had a major impact on reducing the number of deaths during WW2 (perhaps 15% of all casualties along allied armed forces)
Date 13th March 2006
When 6 healthy men were injected with anti-inflammatory drug developed to treat arthritis and leukaemia. Bodies swelled up and breathing became erratic. Organs began to fail leaving 2 of them in a critical condition. Drug developed by German firm TeGenero. Paid £2000 each for taking part in the trial.
Who has a duty to act ethically in the production of new drugs?
Doctors, scientists and researchers. In preparation and open and honest publication of the results
What’s the doctors oath?
‘First do not harm’
What happens if doctors/drug companies conceal information?
Sacrifices the interest of patients and the public for short term sale goals. Endangers future medicine production as causes doubt on the integrity of the industry
Who are GlaxoSmithKline?
Produced Seroxat (antidepressant). Warned by UK drugs regulator that they should have been quicker to raise the alarm on the risk of suicidal behaviour associated with Seroxat in children and adolescents (under 18’s). GlaxoSmithKline believed they had published their information early enough but the regulator disagreed.
What is Seroxat?
Anti-depressant produced by GlaxoSmithKline. Caused suicidal behaviour in under 18’s. Not known how many people committed suicide as a result.
When did GlaxoSmithKline know about the risk of Seroxat causing suicidal behaviour?
Late 1990’s but data showed that details of this risk were not passed on to the drugs regulatory authority until May 2003
Human and animal testing…
Humans must give informed consent. They are given additional care if anything goes wrong.
Regulations require new drugs to be tested on both animals and humans (in UK, children are excluded)
Example of when people were unknown guinea pigs:
Soldiers were exposed to high levels of radiation during nuclear explosion - led to serious medical conditions - cancer
Compensation schemes
During WW2, badly burnt pilots were subject to experimentation which led to breakthroughs in the treatment of burns and plastic surgery - GUINEA PIG CLUB
Which hospital were the guinea pig club treated at?
Queen Victoria hospital, East Grimstead
When may there be no time for testing and slow gradual development?
In times of war - medical breakthroughs often take place
