3 ms·

Even if it's already approved for human use, we still need to test for efficacy before prescribing it to everyone. See also: remdesivir, favipiravir, Prezcobix,

• craftinator 7y ago
  Why? If side effects are marginal and well understood, just start using it and see how well it does.
  • DuskStar 7y ago
    What's the functional difference between that and a clinical trial, from the perspective of the patients?
    • internet_user 7y ago
      It would be essentially a clinical trial, an open-label one. There even have been several blinded trials, that were discontinued mid-way, because the drugs being tested were so effective. To continue giving placebo and denying obvious cure would be unethical, and so the trial was stopped, placebo arm cancelled - and everyone got the actual medicine.
    • ferzul 7y ago
      in a trial, you get invited and you might be placeboed out as a control. in the “just try it and see scenario”, you offer it as a possibility, and everyone who ops in, gets it. it might not be as scientifically rigorous, but that's a big difference to the patient who suffers from receiving a placebo instead of the real deal