And you thought Herr Doktor Mengele was bad...

[formercia]

This is really sick. Outsourcing drug trials to the Third World:

http://blog.wired.com/oneeyed_child/


Cancer Drug Behind Cyclops Birth?



By Scott Carney| Also by this reporter
12:00 PM Aug, 10, 2006

CHENNAI, India -- Medical staff who helped deliver a one-eyed child born here last week believe the mother may have been given an experimental anti-cancer drug, according to an internal hospital report seen by Wired News.


Warning: Some may find these images disturbing. Click here for photos of the child and the hospital where she was born.
The report, from Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children in Chennai, cites two potential causes for the birth defect: Either it was the result of an undetected chromosomal disorder or the mother was exposed to Cyclopamine, a drug that is being researched by a number of U.S. pharmaceutical companies as a potential cancer treatment.

There is no reference in the report on how Cyclopamine became listed as a possible cause.

The report states the child's parents turned to an unnamed fertility clinic after failing to have a child after six years of marriage. The treatment the mother received is unknown, but it appeared to work as she soon became pregnant. Then, late in her third trimester, she had her first ultrasound and it showed the child had serious problems. Too late to abort, she was rushed to the hospital for an induced labor.

The child was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal disorder, known as cyclopia. She was born with a single eye in the center of her forehead, no nose and her brain fused into a single hemisphere. With such severe deformities, it was a miracle that the girl survived even a few minutes after delivery. Yet now, 11 days later, she has lived significantly longer than other cyclopean cases.

More at link...
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EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5
PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE
PER DU RULES.

[Orrex]

1. Everyone brace yourself for a flood of "Constant Gardner" citations

This is a horrible story, to be sure, but it surprises me that anyone could be surprised by it.

[Duer 157099]

2. That'd be one hell of a coincidence

if it weren't related

[cali]

3. Yes, it's tragic and awful.

No, it can't be compared with what Mengele did. Dr. Mengele's sadistic element is wholly missing. I am not, to be clear, defending in any way, these drug trials, but it's a serious error of judgement to compare what went on here with Mengele.

[DemInDistress]

4. is this any more shocking than the Thalomide babies

during the 50's or 60's? No arms and no legs. Are drugs behind this one eyed baby? Yes, it was disturbing to see but not shocking.Innocent dead people in Iraq and Lebanaon are more shocking.

Thanks for the look though.

[soothsayer]

9. Those were all in Canada. Same kind of deal?

[AnnieBW]

5. The Greek Tale of Cyclops

had Ulysses/Odysseus blinding the Cyclops by putting out his eye - violating the laws of hospitality to do so. When Cyclops asked him his name, Odysseus said "no one". Therefore, when his eye was put out, "no one" did it to him.

I predict the same response when blame is assigned for this poor child's affliction - "no one" will step forward and take responsibility for it.

[kiahzero]

6. As I understand it, Cyclops had already violated the rules of hospitality

He was incredibly rude to his guests... you know... eating them, and all.

Sorry to nitpick.

[AnnieBW]

7. Good point

So to speak.

[Sal Minella]

11. arg!

[soothsayer]

10. His *name* was Polyphemus. He *was* a cyclops...

Odysseus actually started this... They got ol' Polyphemus drunk and put out his eye.

[kiahzero]

12. After Polyphemus ate a few of the crew.

If Polyphemus had been a proper host, he would have been fine - Odysseus bore him no ill will.

[bicentennial_baby]

8. Not disturbed, saddened...

Sad for the "life" this child will live, if any...I'd hold her close, if given the chance...All babies need that. x(

Sigh...