Fears that poor parents might risk the health of their children by putting
them on paid drugs trials were raised at a US Food and Drug Administration
meeting in Washington DC in November. The US has introduced tougher regulations
to ensure that children don鈥檛 suffer unforeseen side effects when given
medicines that have previously been tested only on adults. Several drugs
companies have submitted proposals for trials. But needy parents might volunteer
their children for these studies to earn money. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the potential for
abuse lies,鈥 says Ellen Clayton, a paediatrician and lawyer at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Tennessee.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles