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this is just terribly sad. I don't think we with PD need groups who get "placebos" anyway, especially brain surgeries. PD after all is not a "mood". Just like with war, more people will have to die. Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2006 1:58 PM Subject: Putting a name to it The following was written by Paula Wittekind and first appeared on the BrainTalk Forum http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=133404 She gave her permission to repost it on PIEN so that the word gets out to as many people in the Parkinson's community as possible. "Putting a name to it Several days ago, an article caught my eye about a man who had passed away from Parkinson's, but refused to give up the fight all along the way. He was a retired CEO of his company, an optimist, well-loved, and never complained. His goal was to play golf again. People said that all you needed was a handshake and that he was an honest man. This article came through email in a google alert for Parkinson's Disease Research. In it was mentioned that he participated in a clinical trial with Dr. Penn in Chicago and donations could be sent there. I knew that Dr. Penn was the Chicago investigator for the GDNF trial. I called the reporter to see if he knew anything else about the clinical trial this man was in and he sent me the information that his wife had sent to the newspaper, but which he had to modify drastically to be able to use. Her article talked about the GDNF trial and sure enough it was the halted Amgen trial. I called the wife, and talked to her in depth. He was first in line for this trial. But he got the placebo. Brain surgery for a placebo....the chance you take. After six months, all were given the real GDNF. This man then got two doses, and the drug was halted. He tried the only other option, a DBS, which failed miserably. He died several days ago at the age of 62. His name is Bob Cameron. And he is the first "what if". We will never know whether GDNF could have eased his suffering or prolonged his life. The FDA approved compassionate use. There has been no harm to humans from this drug. Question is, just how much harm is going to come from it being withheld? http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060524/NEWS01/605240445/1006 Paula Wittekind" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn