Freakonomics Radio Bad Medicine, Part 2: (Drug) Trials and Tribulations (Rebroadcast)
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Aug 24, 2017 
Teresa Woodruff, a leading expert in oncofertility and the Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University, dives into the complexities of drug trials. She discusses how ineffective drugs often reach the market due to clinical trials being conducted on 'dream patients.' The conversation highlights the historical exclusion of women in research, the repercussions of thalidomide on drug regulations, and the pressing need for transparency and ethical practices in oncology trials. Woodruff emphasizes learning from past failures to improve women's health outcomes.
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Thalidomide Tragedy
- Thalidomide, marketed as a safe sedative, caused severe birth defects in thousands of children.
- This tragedy led to stricter drug regulations and the exclusion of women from drug trials.
The U.S. and Thalidomide
- The U.S., thanks to Dr. Frances Kelsey, avoided widespread thalidomide use.
- However, the tragedy led to stricter drug approval rules and the exclusion of women from trials.
Women Excluded From Trials
- The thalidomide tragedy prompted the exclusion of women from drug trials to protect fetuses.
- This overcorrection had negative consequences, limiting understanding of drug effects on women.