Pregnant women in Africa, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic, are being given “treatments” in 9 studies, in which approximately 1000 babies are expected to die as a result of not receiving AZT treatment, the standard regimen. Participants have, in some cases, a 50% chance of getting AZT or a placebo, but all are desperately poor and would be unable to afford paying for AZT. Government and industry claim that these experiments are justified since these patients would not have any chance of AZT treatment. Dr. Wolfe claims that conducting experiments in other countries that would not be allowed in one’s own country which involve the withholding of known effective treatment, violates basic medical ethics to do no harm, as well as Nuremburg Codes, as well as obtaining consent for drug test participation under coercion.

Guests:

Dr. Peter Lurie, AIDS Researcher, Public Citizen

Dr. Sidney Wolfe, Physician & Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Grou