This is an important point. Medical innovation can be perilous. I'm reminded of the setbacks for gene therapy in the 1990s. The case of Jesse Gelsinger was emblematic:
Every time I recall this, I mean to lookup whatever became of this guy. Finally did. A bit of a follow-up here:
A test of his protocol, published in 2009, found that Gonzalez's patients died faster than those treated with conventional chemotherapy, and had significantly worse quality of life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Gelsinger
Speaking of radical therapies, this also reminded me of this New Yorker article I read years ago:
http://www.michaelspecter.com/2001/02/the-outlaw-doctor/
Every time I recall this, I mean to lookup whatever became of this guy. Finally did. A bit of a follow-up here:
A test of his protocol, published in 2009, found that Gonzalez's patients died faster than those treated with conventional chemotherapy, and had significantly worse quality of life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Gonzalez_%28physician%...