Just how bad is the economy? ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson" went all the way to Edwardsburg, Mich. to find out.
The Dec. 18 broadcast of "World News" highlighted a new economic indicator - the increase in the number of people willing to lend their body to science for money.
"We're going to turn next to some of the extreme measures that some Americans are taking because of the faltering economy," Gibson said. "According to an ABC News Poll, more than one in four people say someone in their household has been fired, faced a cut in pay or a reduction in work hours. Facing mounting debts and dwindling finances, some people are deciding to put their bodies at risk."
Beats waiting in a soup line, no?
The segment featured one woman willing to take experimental pharmaceuticals to make ends meet after she lost her job and got behind on her mortgage.
"Maria Finkbeiner could not find a job," ABC correspondent Gigi Stone said. "Her home was entering foreclosure. That's when she spotted an ad seeking volunteers willing to take experimental prescription drugs for pay."
"When Finkbeiner, a perfectly healthy mother of two met the criteria of a clinical medical trial near her home in Michigan, she signed up," Stone said. Finkbeiner was willing to subject her body to the potential "unknown" long-term risks and short-term side effects, which "can" include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramping according to the ABC News Web site.
However, as unpleasant as that sounds, Finkbeiner didn't come out so bad -- financially that is.
"In just two weeks, she had earned nearly $3,000," Stone said. "It would have taken her six weeks to earn that in her old job."
In fact, according to Just Another Lab Rat, a Web site offering information about clinical trials, those who only do these studies for a living can make $18,000 to $28,000 a year..
According to Stone, the number of people "willing to loan their body to science for a fee" is growing - a sign of challenging times for some people.
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Oh for crying out
December 19, 2008 - 11:10 ET by motherbeltOh for crying out loud!
People have been doing that for years...it's not a function of a lousy economy!
Is there anyone who doesn't know a college student who at some time has donated blood or plasma for a quick buck?
If they are sooo concerned, why not push for a law forbidding drug companies and blood banks from paying volunteers??????
That would solve the problem, in a liberal's mind, right?
I always thought
December 19, 2008 - 11:17 ET by general companyliberals encouraged this type of thing, I guess only during the best of times?
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Everybody knows somebody....
December 19, 2008 - 11:12 ET by superconwho may have seen their situtation change.Is that some sort of newsflash....?Now Gibson is displaying people who are so desperate they will sell their bodies to science as if we are all just one step away from that too.He is nothing more than a carnival barker trying to get people to buy a ticket to see the bearded lady or the dog faced boy.
What is even more laughable is how he scowls and looks worried as if he cares about those people or is in the same boat too.I heard that things were so bad for him that he had to take out the cappucino machine out of his limo.Where will it end?
WTF?
December 19, 2008 - 11:31 ET by CobraMan"a perfectly healthy mother of two met the criteria of a clinical medical trial"
WTF? Since when are "perfectly healthy" people allowed to take experiential medications during a medical trial? As far as I know, only people who are the targeted recipients of the drugs,who are, by definition, NOT "perfectly healthy," can actually receive medications. You don't give, for an example, an experimental anti-psychotic drug to healthy people, you give them to people who have been diagnosed with some type of psychosis.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Nail on head,
December 19, 2008 - 14:14 ET by motherbeltNail on head, cobra....
If you want to take part in a trial, you have to have the condition that the drug is meant to treat.
Gibson is just BS'ing to make it sound like a healthy woman may end up sick, that she is allowing them to inflict some horrible medicine on her to see if she dies.
Clinical trials of a new
December 19, 2008 - 19:55 ET by stratmanClinical trials of a new drug are split into four or five Phases. Phase 1 clinical trials may use healthy individuals to see if the drug is generally safe, tolerable, and what happens to the drug in the body from initial ingestion to final elimination.
For more see here.
Other than that, the MSM is just filling airtime with more BS fearmongering, though to some it may be a tip to make some cash.
MSM tactics
December 19, 2008 - 12:13 ET by iveseenitallThis is the "liberal" socialist left in action. Immature and illogical. Simplicity for simple minds. It is insulting to anyone with an ounce of intelligence. First of all, any action taken by anyone is a choice made by that individual. There are a million ways to make some money in a bad economy. To suggest that the bad economy "forces" anyone to do anything is typical of the perverse illogic of the modern "liberal". It is done to placate the simple mind and have it develop the "victim" mentality. Gibson and his pals want to spread the disease of "liberalism" through class warfare. Don't fall for it. Tell your friends not to fall for it. Tell them to turn off the t.v. and log on to sites like this one. Tell them to watch what their kids are being fed in schools throughout the nation. Resist the crap which will come from Barry and his corrupt, socialist pals. Think for yourselves. Please! And...
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Gibson is lying - as
December 19, 2008 - 12:29 ET by jdhawkGibson is lying - as usual. There are no drug trials for "perfectly healthy" people. He knows that, but expects that his viewership are ignoramuses.
As one of the posters stated above, his "act" is nothing more than that of a carnival barker.
Note, there will be NONE of these typees of stories when the "messiah" takes office. These only appear when the White House is occupied by a Republican.
Way to go Maria, you got
December 19, 2008 - 12:20 ET by rimskyWay to go Maria, you got right out there and found yourself another job. That's the spirit!
REALLY old news, Gibson
December 19, 2008 - 12:25 ET by SickofLibsAnybody ever see the "Testees" series on FX Network? Two morons that work for a test lab. It's hilarious.
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/testees/
Cheap
December 19, 2008 - 12:33 ET by cvgbuckeyeGibson: You couldn't get enough money to buy a bologna sandwich;;;;well maybe without bread.
Tabloid News
December 19, 2008 - 12:36 ET by Goodie>Warships off the Cuban Coast
>Madoff (D) Ponzi Scheme $50B
>UAL bailout for Gelfinger (D)
>Blog (D) dances in Chicago
>Fannie Freddie and Barney Frank (D) Dodd (D)
>Ca is Broke Schwarznegger (D)
>NY is Broke Patterson(D)
>Franken (D) fraud in MN
So the MSN hits with "Oporah buying a new house or people donating to medicine for research..etc...
No wonder the Terrorist hate us!
Obamas last day 1-23-2013
So, where do I sign
December 19, 2008 - 12:36 ET by R D HelmSo, where do I sign up?
:-^)
-Dave
This nation is about to be brutally raped by the socialists, and the MSM will be a willing participant.
anyone notice the news loves "extreme measures to make money"...
December 19, 2008 - 12:40 ET by Jnoble..stories? Remember last summer when gas was high and seome people where doing (insert whatever) to make money for gas?
They also love stories that claim "SOME PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN (INSERT SOMETHING) AND (INSERT SOMETHING)" Usually food or medication or gas or rent or any combination of those. It's almost like News Mad Libs. Just insert your favorite cliche and make up your own story!
By the way..
December 19, 2008 - 12:43 ET by Jnoble...Could Charles possibly look any more self-important and pompous in the screen shot above? Makes me think of Will Ferrell in Anchorman.
Faltering?
December 19, 2008 - 14:36 ET by CobraManYo, Gibson, if the economy is faltering as badly as you insinuate, how the hell can the people performing the clinical trials afford to pay her? Those trials are VERY expensive!
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
reality
December 20, 2008 - 14:53 ET by WesenThis was the economic reality in 1976 thanks to Jimmah Carter. There were no jobs in papers except those for medical experiments. Charlie and his cronies want things to look that way so credit can be given Obama for the recovery that is coming anyway in 2011 - provided that he like Clinton not screw it up.