(no subject)

[somedaybitch]

wow. there's some self-induced bad karma.

blogger Andrew Baron's father is dying of an extremely rare form of cancer, given literally days to live. one of his doctors miraculously discovered that an existing drug for multiple sclerosis can possibly cure him. essentially, despite emergency FDA approval for the drug to be used on Baron's father, the CEO of the company is refusing to allow it. he is also apparently failing to provide a reason.

the link above is to Baron's blog post where he lists contact info and the letter he wrote to the CEO. he's asking for help.

Comments

[bexxa.livejournal.com]

I'm missing something. If the drug exists, and is available, why is the drug company CEO's permission needed? Can the doctor(s) not just administer it?

[ardaniel]

This comment addresses the issues involved better than most people could, I think.

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

personally, i don't subscribe to CorporationsAreEv0l disease, but the context provided by that commenter is interesting.

that said, i still think the call is wrong. the elder Baron has days, literally. both the company and the patient have nothing to lose and everything under the sun to gain. if the FDA gave the approval then it should be allowed. if it works on the elder Baron, it could start another avenue of cancer research, potentially paving the way to saving millions of lives.

[bexxa.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that metafilter thread does help me better understand the larger issue.

[wishkey.livejournal.com]

What does this company have to lose? Seriously. and if they have anything to lose, how much does it weigh in the balance against one human life?

I'll do what I can. I fear it won't be enough.

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

and one can easily make the argument that it's far more than one human life involved here.

ardaniel's reply to bexxa links to a comment that has some context, and the commenter starts off with something about not finding the link from the MS drug to cancer use anywhere. to which i say, well, YES, THAT'S THE POINT. /confused

[wishkey.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth (a lot), I sent a bunch of faxes (I can't make calls right now because of work duties), and sent all the pertinent info to CNN. I think a whole bunch of people should send it to CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/index.html

...maybe Fox News would be interested, too.

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

:::hugs:::

if nothing else, perhaps the CEO will at least say why he's refusing his permission. there could be a very legit reason why he's saying no.

[gingerwood.livejournal.com]

I heard a guy on NPR the other day, he made a good case that, when trying to get people to go along with what you want them to do (in the case of the CEO, that would be getting off his case so as to avoid the bad PR), the most powerful word in the english vocabulary is 'Because'.

Yeah, in cases like this, a reason would be nice. Bonus points if it turns out to be a legitimate reason.