[EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a guest post by Andrew Wang and is meant to promote discussion and thought on a topic that may not be for everyone, and is in no way endorsed by me or this site.]
The year 2008 has been a rough one. Both our finances, and our confidence in the economy and society as a whole have been tested – more often than not to breaking point. Therefore, when it comes to making quick cash, a number of new opportunities have popped up. However, when it comes to making very large amounts of quick cash, one activity stands out from the rest – human medical trials. In this article, we will look at the idea of “human guinea-pigging” closely, weighing up whether or not the money is worth the risk that participating brings about. There are also a few words of advice towards the end for people to consider before jumping in the deep end. We begin with a few definitions.
Firstly, let me make it clear that by using the term “human guinea pig”, I am not referring to dressing up in a furry suit and living in a cage for a week or so. Whilst I’m sure someone would pay you to do that – you may struggle to find them. Instead, the idea comes from the fact that guinea pigs and rats are commonly the creatures of choice used by scientists for medical and pharmaceutical testing. Therefore, the term “human guinea pig” refers to the idea that you yourself will be the one subjected to the medical testing. Of course, in return for your body, the drug companies will pay you a handsome sum of money – compensation for the risks involved in this activity. These risks include organ failure, irreparable damage to cells and vital bodily components, long term complications, and even the possibility of death. But are any of these perceived risks worth worrying about?
The answer is – not really. One only needs to think back to March 2006, when a somewhat standard anti-inflammatory drug was tested on humans in London. Two of the participants came close to death after suffering severely adverse reactions from the drug. This is the type of news headline that is bound to shock and put people off the human guinea pig idea altogether. However, statistics are very much on your side – thousands of trials are conducted each and every year, 99.5 percent of which cause no harm to the participants. If you’re not willing to risk the tiny probability of being in that 0.5 percent, then this type of activity is not for you.
Having concluded here that drug trials are relatively “safe”, perhaps those of us who are able to conquer the fear of illness and reaction should consider participating? This poses the key question of “how do I sign-up?” For those who are interested, here is a quick checklist of things to do before you rush to the local hospital:
- 1. Check with your doctor. There may be issues that would prevent you from participating.
- 2. Head over to: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search and search for trials in your area.
- 3. Detox and build up your immune system before you begin.
- 4. Never EVER take other drugs during the trials! Disclose all medications you are currently on when you apply.
- 5. Wait a while between different drug trials. 2 months is preferable.
Following the above pointers will put you on track for your first medical trial. Assuming that all goes well, you’ll have that extra cash rolling in, in no time. Whatever it is you choose to do – take the proper precautions, and look after yourself! Most of all, remember that this type of activity certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted.
About the Guest.
Andrew Wang lives in Seattle area. He manages the this blog: Travel Reward Credit Card.
I could never be a human guinea pig nor would I ever recommend anyone to try. Yes you maybe desperate for money but your health is so much more important