3 ms·
I sometimes wonder if the exhilaration of such a result comes with a twinge of regret that the result could not have been foreseen before the science reached it
by civilized 4y ago
I sometimes wonder if the exhilaration of such a result comes with a twinge of regret that the result could not have been foreseen before the science reached it, and more people given the lifesaving treatment immediately.
But that is the human condition, I guess. Scientific progress and learning brings regrets, often very momentous ones in retrospect.
- carapace 4y agoRegret, sure, but since we can't change the past that regret should motivate us to work harder to make the present and future better. We're a young species, and part of growing up is looking back with chagrin at how foolish we seem in the light of our new growth and learning.
- chrisbrandow 4y agoWhile I totally get what you mean, I’d guess for scientists, the answer is generally, “no”. Expected outcomes for trials like this are a whole lot less certain to the people doing the work, that than it seems on the outside, so i think it wouldn’t even occur to the scientists that the downside of “withholding” treatment from the tiny (relative to the population) control group comes close to the upside.
- civilized 4y agoYeah, it's just a wistful thing, and most of us laymen don't even experience the part where you want to know something but don't know it yet.
- aperson_hello 4y agoThe number of trials that don't work in humans when it worked in every pre-clinical trial up to that point is enough that it makes sense to be extra cautious.
- qgin 4y agoIt’s true, but there’s no alternative. 99% of things don’t work.
- hprotagonist 4y agogenerally speaking, “holy shit it worked?!!!” drowns out a lot. It’s not so much exhilaration as it is a kind of astonished joy.