Extra income testing drugs
Whilst at uni I was looking at ways to make some money with minimal effort (wish I'd seen last weeks QOTW back then). So I considered clinical drugs trials after I heard a nifty advert on the local radio.

Thinking I'd get loads of money for spending a few days with my feet up I eagerly enquired.

Turns out it pays about £45 and you don't know whether you're the control group who get a placebo or the recipient of a new and not yet proven safe anti flu etc.
I considered it seriously... then 6 people doing the same thing ended up in intensive care and had bits of them amputated as a result of the effects.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4807042.stm

Seriously not worth the risk!
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Thu 16 Sep 2010, 13:50, 4 replies)

If you take the placebo, you're fine.
I remember this guy from when the story was current.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-rzna9O0wM
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Thu 16 Sep 2010, 14:21, closed)

considerably more than 45 quid for a Phase 1 study like this
and after this 1 incident a whole raft of new checks and requirements were introduced.
Placebo trials are also being used less and less and without these studies new drugs would never come through
(monkeyseemonkeydo, Thu 16 Sep 2010, 14:43, closed)

Oh I know testing is necessary
and for some the money will be worth it.
I just decided that gambling your health for extra cash wasn't my cup of tea.
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Thu 16 Sep 2010, 15:33, closed)

That particular study
is brought up over and over again in immunology circles as a brilliant example of why you can't assume what works in a mouse will work in people. Especially if it involves the immune system.

There are so many reasons why they should've known it wouldn't work and so many things they did wrong (not the least of which was that 6 people should not have nearly died - these things should be done one person at a time).
(xanthine, Sat 18 Sep 2010, 11:14, closed)