EPA allows testing on children?

[walkur]

Public comments are now being accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its newly proposed federal regulation regarding the testing of chemicals and pesticides on human subjects. On August 2, 2005, Congress had mandated the EPA create a rule that permanently bans chemical testing on pregnant women and children. But the EPA's newly proposed rule, misleadingly titled "Protections for Subjects in Human Research," puts industry profits ahead of children's welfare. The rule allows for government and industry scientists to treat children as human guinea pigs in chemical experiments in the following situations:

1. Children who "cannot be reasonably consulted," such as those that are mentally handicapped or orphaned newborns may be tested on. With permission from the institution or guardian in charge of the individual, the child may be exposed to chemicals for the sake of research.

2. Parental consent forms are not necessary for testing on children who have been neglected or abused.

3. Chemical studies on any children outside of the U.S. are acceptable.

link from organicconsumers.org
link from Indymedia
The EPA link

I really don't know what to think of this...

I hope that this is just some media bending the facts, if not, I sure hope that this will only apply if it benefits the subject of the tests or is neccesary to safe a life.

However the wording will basically allow indiscriminate testing as long as it's
"for research" purposes

Unfortunatly I don't have the time to read the entire article, I just thought i'd give you guys a heads up.

 

[judasmachine]

WTF?!?!

So corporations, and the government are agreeing that abused, mentally challenged and/or orphaned children have no future, and are saying late late term abortions are OK?

Yeah I hope this is just bending the facts. These are people too young to enter into real contracts, and effectively have no say, nor have they committed any crime against society public or private.

edit: if i'm reading the epa link correctly it does say that the new rules are to categorically ban testing on children and pregnant women, but it's confusing at best.

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: judasmachine
WTF?!?!

So corporations, and the government are agreeing that abused, mentally challenged and/or orphaned children have no future, and are saying late late term abortions are OK?

Yeah I hope this is just bending the facts. These are people too young to enter into real contracts, and effectively have no say, nor have they committed any crime against society public or private.

edit: if i'm reading the epa link correctly it does say that the new rules are to categorically ban testing on children and pregnant women, but it's confusing at best.

The problem is in the exceptions to the rule, which do allow testing on children with assent, or if they decide that assent cannot be reasonably accepted, 26.408(a) states, in part:

In addition to the determinations required under other
applicable sections of this subpart, the IRB shall determine that
adequate provisions are made for soliciting the assent of the children,
when in the judgment of the IRB the children are capable of providing
assent. In determining whether children are capable of assenting, the
IRB shall take into account the ages, maturity, and psychological state
of the children involved. This judgment may be made for all children to
be involved in research under a particular protocol, or for each child,
as the IRB deems appropriate.

 

[TheSlamma]

Wow, so we really are "The bad guys" eh?

 

[Czar]

thats fscking disgusting :|

hope this is just simply not true for everyones sake

 

[laFiera]

Oh come on....EPA...isn't that a USA government agency? What's the concern? If its from the government it must be what's best for us! How dare you question the EPA! Now shut up and call social services to report any abusive parents!

 

[zendari]

Whats wrong with testing on pregnant women? Might harm the lump of meat inside her?

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: zendari
Whats wrong with testing on pregnant women? Might harm the lump of meat inside her?

< sarcasm >

I agree. This is a great way to handle the overpopulation resulting from the admin's policies against any form of birth control. :roll:

< /sarcasm >