thoughts on The Constant Gardener?

[Roxicet]

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I watched The Constant Gardener last night. It was an excellent movie, but made me sick to my stomach when I pondered that if any of the unethical research they described actually happens in our world today, then I am nothing more than a drug dealer and accessory to murder for the big pharma companies. I am also in the middle of writing an ethics paper on whether or not I think it is ethical to test drugs in third world countries. In my research, I have found many interesting yet disturbing facts. You can read some of it here:

http://www.stanford.edu/group/sjir/3.2.05_silverio.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Health/Globalizing_DrugResearch.html

What do you think about all this?

 

[wheelsonfire]

I watched The Constant Gardener last night. It was an excellent movie, but made me sick to my stomach when I pondered that if any of the unethical research they described actually happens in our world today, then I am nothing more than a drug dealer and accessory to murder for the big pharma companies. I am also in the middle of writing an ethics paper on whether or not I think it is ethical to test drugs in third world countries. In my research, I have found many interesting yet disturbing facts. You can read some of it here:

http://www.stanford.edu/group/sjir/3.2.05_silverio.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Health/Globalizing_DrugResearch.html

What do you think about all this?

I'm just an applicant, but I saw this movie the day it came out. It was flat-out disturbing. I also work in public health & part-time it as a tech, so it was a nightmare.
I'm very interested to read the responses to the OP's question.
If you haven't seen the movie, put it in your Netflix requests.

 

[pharmaz88]

I think you should write your own paper, instead of fishing for ideas here.

















🙂

j/k, Roxy

 

[Jeddevil]

I think you should write my paper also off of all the ideas you get fishing here.


not/k Roxy

 

[Roxicet]

I think you should write my paper also off of all the ideas you get fishing here.


not/k Roxy

😛 I already know what I think...I just want to know what others think about it. Get back to studying you slackers!

 

[Glycerin]

Geez, blast from the past. Where've you been?

I haven't seen or even heard of this movie. Maybe I'll check it out.

 

[dgroulx]

Who has time to watch a movie? I allow myself one hour per night for watching TV. The last couple of nights I've fallen asleep before the first half hour was done.

 

[aya01]

Who has time to watch a movie? I allow myself one hour per night for watching TV. The last couple of nights I've fallen asleep before the first half hour was done.

I agree! These days, sleep sounds much more appealing than TV!

As for The Constant Gardener, I've yet to see it either, but it sounds really interesting from what I've been reading in this thread.

 

[Boston Native]

I agree! These days, sleep sounds much more appealing than TV!

As for The Constant Gardener, I've yet to see it either, but it sounds really interesting from what I've been reading in this thread.

I rented the Constant Gardener last week. It was of the most boring movies that I have ever seen.

 

[ultracet]

it got several oscar nominations

 

[Boston Native]

it got several oscar nominations

A lot of dull movies get oscar nominations. Monster's Ball, The English Patient are two in recent years that won awards that I thought were extremely boring. As Elaine said in one episode of Seinfield, the English Patient sucked. I believe that Brokeback Mountain is up for 8 oscar nominations, and the majority of americans have not even seen this movie. I don't think a movie about two males sneaking off to some mountain for hanky panky is a plot that would appeal to most Americans. I can't see your average straight male dying to go see Brokeback Mountain.... he would only go see it if his girlfriend or wife forced him to. The Constant Gardener movie was essentially an attack on pharmaceutical companies with little basis in truth I would assume, and any movie in which big corporations are the villian is going to appeal to the socialist Sean Penn type person in Hollywood. I still don't understand why this movie was called The Constant Gardener....if any English majors could explain that to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
I thought The Great Raid and Cinderalla Man were better movies than any of the movies that are winning awards this year. It seems to me that most of the movies to win awards at the Golden Globes featured homosexual or transexual characters, including Brokeback Mountain, Capote, and Transamerica, or big corporation conspiracy movies like Syrianna and The Constant Gardener.

 

[dgroulx]

My husband is attracted to men and even he doesn't want to see Brokeback Mountain. I'll just have to see it on my own.

I'm all for the emergence of gay themed movies. At least 20% of the population is gay/bi or hiding it. I know lots of "hiding it" people. The more people who understand, the better. Then maybe people won't have to hide their true selves.

 

[Boston Native]

My husband is attracted to men and even he doesn't want to see Brokeback Mountain. I'll just have to see it on my own.

I'm all for the emergence of gay themed movies. At least 20% of the population is gay/bi or hiding it. I know lots of "hiding it" people. The more people who understand, the better. Then maybe people won't have to hide their true selves.

1 out of 5 people is gay or bisexual? I have a hard time believing that. I'm not sure how a gay cowboy movie is needed for people to understand that gays exist.

 

[Boston Native]

My husband is attracted to men and even he doesn't want to see Brokeback Mountain. I'll just have to see it on my own.

I'm all for the emergence of gay themed movies. At least 20% of the population is gay/bi or hiding it. I know lots of "hiding it" people. The more people who understand, the better. Then maybe people won't have to hide their true selves.

1 out of 5 people is gay or bisexual? I have a hard time believing that. I'm not sure why a gay cowboy movie is needed for people to understand that gays exist.

 

[dgroulx]

1 out of 5 people is gay or bisexual? I have a hard time believing that. I'm not sure why a gay cowboy movie is needed for people to understand that gays exist.

You'd be surprised how many people are gay and pretend to be straight because of our society. I belong to the straight spouse network (people married to gay/lesbian/bi individuals). Until gays are given the same rights as straights, they will always hide in a marriage. That marriage ends up hurting many individuals.

Everyone knows that gays exist. What people need to understand is that they are no different than anyone else. Brokeback Mountain should be seen as no different than any other tragic movie about two people who love each other but stayed married for other reasons.

 

[usi]

I have yet to see the Constant Gardener, and Brokeback Mountain.
I will rent them both.
My husband saw the constant gardener and says I must see it, since I worked for big pharma and all.
It scares me to think stuff like that happens.
I believe that is not blatant, but that everyday someone is bending the truth a little for the benefit of the corporation.
In the case of drug companies. Is tough. I know first hand how expensive and time consuming bringing a drug to market is. I am torn.
One thing is for sure: The people closer to drug discovery (chemists, biologists and pre-clinical people) make the least money. The people closest to market (clinical, marketing, sales) make more. A general rule with a few exceptions.
One thing is for sure.... there is little incentive for a pharmaceutical co to do research on a drug indicated for a disesase prevalent in a developing country, but in "control" or not as common in the US.

 

[Boston Native]

You'd be surprised how many people are gay and pretend to be straight because of our society. I belong to the straight spouse network (people married to gay/lesbian/bi individuals). Until gays are given the same rights as straights, they will always hide in a marriage. That marriage ends up hurting many individuals.

Everyone knows that gays exist. What people need to understand is that they are no different than anyone else. Brokeback Mountain should be seen as no different than any other tragic movie about two people who love each other but stayed married for other reasons.

Gays are different from other people. Most people are heterosexual, and they are homosexual. That is a difference. I don't think most gays are hiding in a heterosexual marriage, since they are not attracted to the opposite sex. There are a lot of straight adults who are not married, so I do not see why gays would need to resort to marriage to hide their homosexuality. I think gays have all the rights that straights do, except for the right to marry each other. From what I have heard about Brokeback Mountain, the bisexual cowboy is married to a woman, and he commits adultery with the gay cowboy who is not married. I'm assuming the bisexual cowboy must have been attracted to the woman he married at some point, since bisexuals can go either way. It seems to me the tragedy of this movie is that the bisexual cowboy cheats on his wife. Nobody forced him to marry a woman. If your husband used his bisexuality as an excuse for commiting adultery with a man, I don't think you would be too happy about that. My problem with this movie is that it really just pushing the message "gays are just like everybody else, they can even be cowboys!". They wrapped a weak plot around this message to make it a movie. I don't think this movie was deserving of any awards. It was just a 2 hour "THe More You Know" commericial on NBC disguised as a movie 🙂.

 

[Moxxie]

Gays are different from other people. Most people are heterosexual, and they are homosexual. That is a difference. I don't think most gays are hiding in a heterosexual marriage, since they are not attracted to the opposite sex. There are a lot of straight adults who are not married, so I do not see why gays would need to resort to marriage to hide their homosexuality. I think gays have all the rights that straights do, except for the right to marry each other. From what I have heard about Brokeback Mountain, the bisexual cowboy is married to a woman, and he commits adultery with the gay cowboy who is not married. I'm assuming the bisexual cowboy must have been attracted to the woman he married at some point, since bisexuals can go either way. It seems to me the tragedy of this movie is that the bisexual cowboy cheats on his wife. Nobody forced him to marry a woman. If your husband used his bisexuality as an excuse for commiting adultery with a man, I don't think you would be too happy about that. My problem with this movie is that it really just pushing the message "gays are just like everybody else, they can even be cowboys!". They wrapped a weak plot around this message to make it a movie. I don't think this movie was deserving of any awards. It was just a 2 hour "THe More You Know" commericial on NBC disguised as a movie 🙂.

😱 😱

Are you living under a rock? There are so many things wrong with what you just wrote I don't know where to start. While gays, lesbians and bis and made tremendous progress in the last few years, they are still discriminated against, even if the discrimination is not blatant, like "you can't eat here" or "I won't hire you." But the subtle types of discrimination that gays experience is still widespread in the U.S.

And who says that a marriage is JUST about being attracted to someone sexually? If this was the case than a lot of marriages would fall apart after a few years after the lust died down. Being in a relationship/marriage is about respect, mutual interests, and overall, just being each other's best friend - I know for a fact that i can unconditionally rely on and trust my husband, and I don't have that kind of relationship with anyone else in my life.

Sorry for the rant, but please become more sensitive!

 

[Boston Native]

😱 😱

Are you living under a rock? There are so many things wrong with what you just wrote I don't know where to start. While gays, lesbians and bis and made tremendous progress in the last few years, they are still discriminated against, even if the discrimination is not blatant, like "you can't eat here" or "I won't hire you." But the subtle types of discrimination that gays experience is still widespread in the U.S.

And who says that a marriage is JUST about being attracted to someone sexually? If this was the case than a lot of marriages would fall apart after a few years after the lust died down. Being in a relationship/marriage is about respect, mutual interests, and overall, just being each other's best friend - I know for a fact that i can unconditionally rely on and trust my husband, and I don't have that kind of relationship with anyone else in my life.

Sorry for the rant, but please become more sensitive!

I'm not sure what I said that was insensitive. I did not beat up on gay people in my previous posts. I disagree with your perception that there is widespread intolerance of homosexuals in America. Most people aren't out to get gay people, in my opinion.

I never claimed that marriage is JUST about beineg attracted to someone sexually. However, physical attraction typically is an element in MOST marriages.

 

[dgroulx]

I just celebrated my 20th anniversary. In 1997, my husband took a job out of state, moved in with a man, went to gay clubs, and went on gay vacations. I didn't divorce him. In the end, he decided that he prefered me to anyone else. Hell, he didn't pick me over all other women but over all other men as well.

We got married because we had the same interests and we still like the same things. We love shopping for furniture, looking at antiques, trying new recipes, watching the same shows on TV, etc. Sexual attraction is not a factor after many years together. You'll find that as you get older that sex is not a very important part of a relationship.

If you think people don't hide in marriages, you are very naive. I know first hand that this happens. Do some research on the Straight Spouse Network. We're a real organization. If gays were treated with tolerance, were allowed to marry, adopt children, receive equal benefits and were just treated the same as straights then they wouldn't marry straight people.

 

[gablet]

Sexual attraction is not a factor after many years together. You'll find that as you get older that sex is not a very important part of a relationship.

If gays were treated with tolerance, were allowed to marry, adopt children, receive equal benefits and were just treated the same as straights then they wouldn't marry straight people.

I've been married for 9 years and am 34 years old. I realize that you are older, but I can't imagine having a marriage in which we did not have intimacy.

People that are gay are seen negatively when they behave inappropriately. For instance - gay pride parades are ridiculous. They stomp around dressed in goofy revealing outfits chanting that they are queer. Then this movie glorifies a man cheating on his wife.

I don't care if people are gay, but if you want to be taken seriously, act appropriately. Don't tell me that it furthers the cause by acting this way.

 

[Boston Native]

I just celebrated my 20th anniversary. In 1997, my husband took a job out of state, moved in with a man, went to gay clubs, and went on gay vacations. I didn't divorce him. In the end, he decided that he prefered me to anyone else. Hell, he didn't pick me over all other women but over all other men as well.

We got married because we had the same interests and we still like the same things. We love shopping for furniture, looking at antiques, trying new recipes, watching the same shows on TV, etc. Sexual attraction is not a factor after many years together. You'll find that as you get older that sex is not a very important part of a relationship.

If you think people don't hide in marriages, you are very naive. I know first hand that this happens. Do some research on the Straight Spouse Network. We're a real organization. If gays were treated with tolerance, were allowed to marry, adopt children, receive equal benefits and were just treated the same as straights then they wouldn't marry straight people.

I don't understand why you remained married to a man that left you to go live with another man. You are definitely an enigma, but to each his or her own. I don't think most gays are hiding in marriages, despite what your Straight Spouse Network contends. If a gay person doesn't want to disclose that he or she is gay, why can't you just respect that? It's their choice. Most people don't want to disclose everything about themselves. As I said in a previous post, I think gays are treated with tolerance by most americans. I feel bad that you have a negative view of your fellow americans.

 

[Sosumi]

People that are gay are seen negatively when they behave inappropriately. For instance - gay pride parades are ridiculous. They stomp around dressed in goofy revealing outfits chanting that they are queer. Then this movie glorifies a man cheating on his wife.

I don't care if people are gay, but if you want to be taken seriously, act appropriately. Don't tell me that it furthers the cause by acting this way.

Gay pride parades have mostly people walking around dressed and acting ordinarily. It's the media that love to show the sensationalistic aspects of the parade that give people the impression that all that goes on there are scantily clad people "flaunting" themselves.

 

[Roxicet]

How did my thread turn into a gay issue debate? 🙄

Forget about the movie....what do you think about real issues in research in developing countries (did anyone read the links)?

 

[28657]

People that are gay are seen negatively when they behave inappropriately. For instance - gay pride parades are ridiculous. They stomp around dressed in goofy revealing outfits chanting that they are queer. Then this movie glorifies a man cheating on his wife.

I don't care if people are gay, but if you want to be taken seriously, act appropriately. Don't tell me that it furthers the cause by acting this way.

First let me say -
Sorry ROXY for stealing your thread but I couldn't resist a comment to the gay debate.

Now onto GABLET 👎 - This is the 2nd post of the day where you prove yourself to be a judgemental, non-accepting human being. Why would you even bring up "ridiculous gay pride parades"....would you ever in a million years make such blanket statements about other groups of people like:

-If black people want to be taken seriously they need to quit wearing "jewry" in their mouths.
-If white people want to be taken seriously they need to quit going on Jerry Springer to air their trash.
-If French people want to be taken seriously they need to shave their armpits.

God, your social intelligence BAFFLES me.

You've managed to completely offend me (and I'm sure plenty of others). You picked a VERY select portion of the population (gay people who go to pride parades and "stomp around dressed in goofy revealing outfits chanting that they are queer") and suggested that all gay people act like this and that's why they're not accepted.

NO they're not accepted because of ridiculous stereotypes that people like YOU continue to believe. 🙄

 

[gablet]

AmandaRxs:

I'm sorry that I offended you (or anyone else). I was trying to make the point that people are looked down upon when they act inappropriately. I did not say that all gay people act that way, nor do I believe that. If I were gay, I would be irritated by those people that work against my cause of gaining the right to marry, etc.

 

[dgroulx]

I've been married for 9 years and am 34 years old. I realize that you are older, but I can't imagine having a marriage in which we did not have intimacy.

I didn't say that we didn't have sex. I said that sex was not that important. It's a very small part of a successful relationship.

 

[dgroulx]

I don't think most gays are hiding in marriages, despite what your Straight Spouse Network contends. If a gay person doesn't want to disclose that he or she is gay, why can't you just respect that? It's their choice.

Dude, the SSN members are all married to gay/lesbian/bi partners. It's not a blanket statement from an organization. We have many different email lists, and gatherings where people are safe to talk about the pain that they have felt. Many people use aliases because their spouses cannot be outed. There's a large number of spouses who are ministers. Hiding in the church is a common thread.

I'm web-only in the group since starting school, because I can't handle the hundreds of emails that appear every day.

 

[Medpilot]

Ahem.... so I was watching the Constant Gardener the other day and I was just about to form an opinion when a gay pride parade went by outside. I lost my train of thought completely because of all the shouting.

 

[gablet]

Ahem.... so I was watching the Constant Gardener the other day and I was just about to form an opinion when a gay pride parade went by outside. I lost my train of thought completely because of all the shouting.

lol - this did get out of hand. Sorry for my part.

 

[dgroulx]

lol - this did get out of hand. Sorry for my part.

Yes, we now return to the subject of the thread.

So, what is this movie about? Is it worth renting?

 

[DownonthePharm]

I bought this movie two weeks ago, planning to watch it this weekend while the hubby does his military thing this weekend. I thought it would make interesting research because part of how people view big-pharma (heck, most things) is due to media representation of it. Rachel Weisz is one of my favorite actresses too. I would say she is my "girl crush" but in light of all the postings since yesterday that might get misinterpreted. 😉

So Ill report back later.

PS This is what I found about the title, basically it means what it says:

"'The Constant Gardener' refers to the central character's personality traits. The acting is subtle and understated, particularly Fiennes - until things get hairy, his emoting is so rarified except in rare moments of passion that recurring shots of him looking after his plants show how little of an outlet as he will allow.
"Constant" is of course also a play on constancy, as in his fidelity to his wife, regardless of her inferred infidelity to him, and in his quest to understand her death regardless of the cost. The movie's roots in text show, as double edged phrases pop up quite often, both subtle and obvious. "

 

[Boston Native]

Dude, the SSN members are all married to gay/lesbian/bi partners. It's not a blanket statement from an organization. We have many different email lists, and gatherings where people are safe to talk about the pain that they have felt. Many people use aliases because their spouses cannot be outed. There's a large number of spouses who are ministers. Hiding in the church is a common thread.

I'm web-only in the group since starting school, because I can't handle the hundreds of emails that appear every day.

I don't think the majority of gay people are in SSN. Concluding that a majority of gay people are hiding in marriages based on the membership of some gays in one organization is baseless, in my view. Unless you personally know every gay person in america and can ask them all if they are hiding in a marriage, your premise is nothing but conjecture and extrapolation. I still don't understand why a gay person would need to hide in a marriage to conceal they are gay. There are a lot of single people out there, and I don't think people assume a single person is gay just because they are single.

 

[Boston Native]

PS This is what I found about the title, basically it means what it says:

"'The Constant Gardener' refers to the central character's personality traits. The acting is subtle and understated, particularly Fiennes - until things get hairy, his emoting is so rarified except in rare moments of passion that recurring shots of him looking after his plants show how little of an outlet as he will allow.
"Constant" is of course also a play on constancy, as in his fidelity to his wife, regardless of her inferred infidelity to him, and in his quest to understand her death regardless of the cost. The movie's roots in text show, as double edged phrases pop up quite often, both subtle and obvious. "

Yah, you are right, most people would have figured all that out on their own. It's so obvious now in hindsight. This movie should have be named Constant Garbage, or The Constant Idiot because the guy basically commits suicide by investigating the death of his wife who cheated on him. 🙂

 

[imperial frog]

Everyone knows that gays exist. What people need to understand is that they are no different than anyone else. Brokeback Mountain should be seen as no different than any other tragic movie about two people who love each other but stayed married for other reasons.

Which is why I'm not going to watch it. I don't care if the leads are male/female, female/female, male/male, male/horse...I just don't get into those movies. Well...maybe that last one might be interesting.

 

[Roxicet]

Yah, you are right, most people would have figured all that out on their own. It's so obvious now in hindsight. This movie should have be named Constant Garbage, or The Constant Idiot because the guy basically commits suicide by investigating the death of his wife who cheated on him. 🙂

She never cheated on him. This is one of the things he realizes while investigating her death. She adored him.

 

[imperial frog]

One thing is for sure: The people closer to drug discovery (chemists, biologists and pre-clinical people) make the least money. The people closest to market (clinical, marketing, sales) make more. A general rule with a few exceptions.
One thing is for sure.... there is little incentive for a pharmaceutical co to do research on a drug indicated for a disesase prevalent in a developing country, but in "control" or not as common in the US.

Hey! That's two things.

 

[DownonthePharm]

Hey! That's two things.

But only one is for sure.

 

[Boston Native]

She never cheated on him. This is one of the things he realizes while investigating her death. She adored him.

In the movie, she offers sex to the character Sandy in order to get some information about the drug conspiracy in Africa. I don't recall the movie providing any information that she didn't have sex with this character....I think the audience was suppose to assume she did, but for a good cause.

Here is a good review of the movie:
"The Constant Gardener is not even slightly subtle with its anti-capitalist message. The exact opposite is the unfortunate reality. I felt like Meirelles employed a sledge hammer approach to convince the audience that the major corporations will stop at nothing, including torture and murder, to increase their profits. Such heavy handed propagandizing is never appropriate. One can indeed lay it on too thickly. A lighter touch is required. Who will enjoy The Constant Gardener? Are you someone who like the offerings of Michael Moore and Oliver Stone? If so, this might be right up your alley. But if you are anyone else---this film will put you to sleep. Instead, I strongly recommend The Great Raid starring Ralph Fiennes' brother, Joseph."

 

[Roxicet]

In the movie, she offers sex to the character Sandy in order to get some information about the drug conspiracy in Africa. I don't recall the movie providing any information that she didn't have sex with this character....I think the audience was suppose to assume she did, but for a good cause.

"

No, she didn't, as you would know if you listened carefully...in an email or something else she wrote to someone that he read after her death, she said she had done something terrible and had stolen the letter and made a promise she never intended to keep (as in she promised to sleep with Sandy but knew she would never go through with it, but she knew that just making that promise was not right).

 

[Roxicet]

No, she didn't, as you would know if you listened carefully...in an email or something else she wrote to someone that he read after her death, she said she had done something terrible and had stolen the letter and made a promise she never intended to keep (as in she promised to sleep with Sandy but knew she would never go through with it, but she knew that just making that promise was not right).

BTW my original question was do you think it is ethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries, not what you think of the movie.

 

[Boston Native]

BTW my original question was do you think it is ethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries, not what you think of the movie.

I apologize. I thought in America that I could talk about anything that I was interested in talking about.

Your question seems to be rhetorical....obviously it would be unethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries without their informed consent.

 

[28657]

BTW my original question was do you think it is ethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries, not what you think of the movie.

Yes, it is ethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries. If the regular or "proper" course of treatment isn't readily available...then why the heck not!

 

[Roxicet]

Yes, it is ethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries. If the regular or "proper" course of treatment isn't readily available...then why the heck not!

Thank you. 😉

 

[Roxicet]

I apologize. I thought in America that I could talk about anything that I was interested in talking about.

Your question seems to be rhetorical....obviously it would be unethical to conduct medical research on people in developing countries without their informed consent.

okay, but what is your definition of informed consent? Do you think they can really understand what they're signing? And, do you think that even if they don't understand what they're signing, that they would sign anyway because they are offered free medical care which they would not otherwise get if they didn't participate in the research? I don't think my question was rhetorical...I'm interested in everyone's opinion about this. I personally don't think it's possible to get true informed consent when there's probably not even words in their language to translate what they need to know.

 

[imperial frog]

I apologize. I thought in America that I could talk about anything that I was interested in talking about.

You can...that's why you can start a new thread if you want.

 

[Boston Native]

okay, but what is your definition of informed consent? Do you think they can really understand what they're signing? And, do you think that even if they don't understand what they're signing, that they would sign anyway because they are offered free medical care which they would not otherwise get if they didn't participate in the research? I don't think my question was rhetorical...I'm interested in everyone's opinion about this. I personally don't think it's possible to get true informed consent when there's probably not even words in their language to translate what they need to know.

I think it's possible to get true informed consent based on the fact that there are numerous people from African countries that have learned how to speak English and other languages. A good translator should be able to convey the information the people need to make an informed decision. It would seem that it would be possible to get medical care in Africa without having to participate in medical research. There are a lot of charity organizations over there, not to mention Bono. 😉

 

[Boston Native]

You can...that's why you can start a new thread if you want.

Several people in this forum asked if anybody had seen The Constant Gardener. I have, so I expressed my opinion and criticisms of the movie. We got off on some other topics, but as far as I can tell, nobody got hurt.

If you want to tell people what to do, why don't you start a new thread entitled "i'm a control freak and i want to tell you what to do and in what arena you can express your viewpoints". Your post has nothing to do with the girl's original question either.

 

[wheelsonfire]

I think it's possible to get true informed consent based on the fact that there are numerous people from African countries that have learned how to speak English and other languages. A good translator should be able to convey the information the people need to make an informed decision. It would seem that it would be possible to get medical care in Africa without having to participate in medical research. There are a lot of charity organizations over there, not to mention Bono. 😉

I think you need to see the movie and then determine how reasonable it is to "reach-out" to those who don't speak English, but want free medical attention.
It's so much easier to take advantage of the willing.

 

[Boston Native]

I think you need to see the movie and then determine how reasonable it is to "reach-out" to those who don't speak English, but want free medical attention.
It's so much easier to take advantage of the willing.

I did see the movie. Did you read my posts in this thread at all? I think that I may be one of two people in here that has seen it. I assume that there are translators in Africa that can enable the people in those countries to understand information being conveyed to them in another language. If drug companies are not informing the Africans through translators about the medical research so that they can make an informed decision, then it would be unethical and taking advantage of the willing.