Imagine taking a drug not knowing the affects it could directly have on the body. With the advantage of Clinical trials, scientists have the opportunity to try new drugs on humans and study the effects it may cause on the human body. Many years ago the only way to try to find a solution to an illnesses was “cutting open a vein to drain a pint or more of blood and giving toxic substances to force vomiting” (Getz 17). Clinical trials have occurred for thousands of years dating back to biblical times, draining blood for the purpose of curing ill people, and are done daily to help save the lives of thousands. In light of reoccurring diseases such as Ebola, the American Medical Association must pass a bill to allow research on disease like Alzheimer’s, …show more content…
Clinical trials offer an insight into different ways to prevent a disease. In many instances a trial on a new drug is the best hope for helping a love one just like Elizabeth Miller’s mother. The elder woman was suffering for Alzheimer’s disease and around the time of her diagnosis a new drug was being developed. This drug claimed to be “different because it targets a mechanism thought to cause Alzheimer’s before symptoms occur” (Lerner 2014), giving the doctors an opportunity to actually prevent a disease. The clinical trials are giving hope to around five million people around the world and the millions who could eventually develop the disease (Lerner 2014). Giving scientists the opportunity to openly do research on humans, will allow them to be able to find and develop new medications to stop chronic or acute diseases. Doctors such as Dr. Eric M. Reiman have stated that new “tests may indicate in two years whether the drug helps delay memory decline or brain changes” (Belluck 2012). This gives evidence that with clinical trials the drug could possibly be developed and prevent Alzheimer’s along with showing evidence that this could happen with other medications and disease. The trials on humans also show the direct affect, which is beneficial because the new drug development wouldn’t be possible and is why clinical trials are so important to be