Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jul 2000
Source: Border Mail (Australia)
Contact:  http://www.bordermail.com.au/
Author: Andrew Byrne

NEEDLE TRIAL MOVE MAY BE UNETHICAL

MS Whyte may know that to be in a "control" group for a scientific
experiment that there must be safeguards.

Therefore, with the evidence already known, a formal trial as she
suggests may be unethical.

Yet just such a trial goes on.

And yes, Ms Whyte, in a jurisdiction having many more demographic
similarities than differences with Australia.

It has excellent facilities for counselling, detox and other measures,
including a hard-pressed methadone service, just like us.

But only extremely limited needle services are available to most of
their drug users.

That is unlike the situation in Australia.

California will probably report over 5000 cases of HIV due to
contaminated needles this year.

But we will have a couple of dozen at most.

And the incidence of hepatitis C is diminishing here,
too.

These figures (even approximations from the WHO) are pretty
persuasive.

They do not need a judicial review to be interpreted.

How is it that you seem to know better than all the
experts?

What is the source of all these dangerous views?

Do you know any drug users? What do they say about the
issue?

DR ANDREW BYRNE, REDFERN
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