Monday, December 01, 2008
Patient-led Drug Trials
An article by Marcus Wohlsen appeared on the AP over the weekend, regarding ALS patients who are conducting their own clinical trial using lithium. A snippet:
I can certainly relate to the desire to speed up treatment plans. It's part of the need that patients with life-threatening illnesses have to take some control of their situation amid circumstances that feel hopeless. Others might look to nutrition, natural remedies, spirituality, etc. Personally (and quite unscientifically), I think it all helps, because I believe that hopelessness is poisonous.
Wohlsen's article also reminded me of the Virtual Trial being conducted by the Musella Foundation. The foundation deserves a plug here; I hope you'll follow the link to read about the Virtual Trial and the other good work the Musella Foundation does.
P.S. The AP link above will expire on January 1, 2009.
Dozens of ALS patients are testing treatments on their own without waiting on the slow pace of medical research. They are part of an emerging group of patients willing to share intimate health details on the Web in hopes of making their own medical discoveries.
I can certainly relate to the desire to speed up treatment plans. It's part of the need that patients with life-threatening illnesses have to take some control of their situation amid circumstances that feel hopeless. Others might look to nutrition, natural remedies, spirituality, etc. Personally (and quite unscientifically), I think it all helps, because I believe that hopelessness is poisonous.
Wohlsen's article also reminded me of the Virtual Trial being conducted by the Musella Foundation. The foundation deserves a plug here; I hope you'll follow the link to read about the Virtual Trial and the other good work the Musella Foundation does.
P.S. The AP link above will expire on January 1, 2009.
Labels: brain tumor, faith, health, Internet, Jane, medicine, psychology, science, technology
Monday, February 11, 2008
David Kuo heads to Africa
He tells the why and how better than I could recap it here.
Labels: brain tumor, faith, health, politics, world
