Judicial Insight

Dilemma · Ethics & Law

Sep 30, 2026 · Hypothetical, no court ruling

A healthy volunteer holds a syringe, facing a regulatory official in a lab setting.AI illustration
Ethics & Law Dilemma

One volunteer, a 90% chance of death, and a cure for 100 patients

Should one volunteer risk death to potentially save 100 patients?
100 patients90% fatality risk1 volunteer

TL;DR

  1. 1A new drug could instantly cure 100 patients with a rare, fatal disease.
  2. 2Final approval requires one human test, and the healthy volunteer faces a 90% chance of dying.
  3. 3The volunteer , but must decide whether to allow the trial at all.

Should approve a trial that will almost certainly kill one volunteer to save 100?

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