cover of episode The Human Guinea Pigs of Camp Lazear

The Human Guinea Pigs of Camp Lazear

2024/8/16
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Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
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Tim Harford: 本期节目探讨了黄热病研究的历史，特别是早期研究者在缺乏充分科学设计的情况下进行人体实验的案例。节目中详细描述了黄热病的症状和危害，以及早期对黄热病传播途径的各种猜测，包括人际接触、空气传播和接触污染物等。节目还介绍了Walter Reed领导的黄热病研究委员会的工作，以及Jesse Lazear和James Carroll等研究人员的贡献和牺牲。同时，节目也探讨了在新冠疫情期间关于人体攻击试验的讨论，以及如何更好地权衡人体实验的风险和收益。 Jesse Lazear: 作为一名黄热病研究人员，拉齐尔积极参与了早期实验，并最终在实验中感染黄热病去世。他的实验方法不够严谨，缺乏充分的科学设计，导致其自我牺牲的价值未能得到充分体现。尽管如此，他的贡献为后来的黄热病研究奠定了基础。 James Carroll: 与拉齐尔一样，卡罗尔也积极参与了早期实验，并感染了黄热病。他的经历与拉齐尔的经历相似，都体现了早期研究人员的勇气和奉献，但也暴露出早期实验的不足之处。 Walter Reed: 作为黄热病研究委员会的负责人，里德在吸取了早期实验的教训后，在拉齐尔营进行了更严谨的科学实验，并取得了显著成果。他强调了科学实验的设计和知情同意的重要性，为后来的医学研究树立了榜样。 John Moran: 莫兰作为志愿者参与了里德在拉齐尔营的实验，他的行为体现了利他主义精神。他的案例也说明了在严谨的科学实验设计下，人体实验的风险是可以被有效控制的。

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The episode explores the early experiments and theories surrounding the transmission of yellow fever, focusing on the efforts of Major Walter Reed and his team in Cuba.

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Young doctor Jesse Lazear has deadly Yellow Fever. He thrashes around and convulses in his sick bed, and his vomit is black. He is just 34 when he dies.

Curiously, mosquito expert Lazear was researching the disease when he became ill. Some historians think his infection wasn't an accident, and that he was secretly experimenting on himself...

Today, human challenge trials - where volunteers are intentionally given a disease under the watchful eye of medical support - are rare. The authorities are wary of the risks involved. But such trials can also mean that vaccines are developed faster and thousands of lives are saved. Is it time to start thinking differently about experimenting on humans?

For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com).

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