Some (perhaps many) of these trials weren't so much badly designed as not designed. When you're overwhelmed by patients and have no good treatment, and have to

Some (perhaps many) of these trials weren't so much badly designed as not designed. When you're overwhelmed by patients and have no good treatment, and have to try something, it's possible to try something experimental and write that up. That's then called a "trial", but it's designed by people who are up to their necks in work.