Lorenzo's Oil
I just saw this movie and thought it was very good. But then I got to thinking that this film is an argument for a more libertarian approach to government.
For those who haven't seen the film I'll give you a brief summary:
A boy named Lorenzo is diagnosed with a disease (ADL) that attacks the brain and eventually strips the patient of motor functions. This is a rare disease so the doctors are confounded for a cure. Lorenzo's parents take the initiative and begin their own research. Despite opposition from the medical community and other organisations, they begin testing different oils and eventually find a cure.
Personally I don't know anything about ADL or if Lorenzo ever fully recovered. But I was wondering what people think of such an approach and if this kind of independent research represents a libertarian attitude.
Rotovia-
23-06-2005, 04:32
I've seen it. Good movie, Decent acting. A little too "movie of the week". But that aside I don't aggree with approach. Layman should not be allowed to experiement on the severely ill. That said, the medical community os in need of serious reform and needs to cut back on it's beuocracy and grow a backbone.
Daistallia 2104
23-06-2005, 05:15
I just saw this movie and thought it was very good. But then I got to thinking that this film is an argument for a more libertarian approach to government.
For those who haven't seen the film I'll give you a brief summary:
A boy named Lorenzo is diagnosed with a disease (ADL) that attacks the brain and eventually strips the patient of motor functions. This is a rare disease so the doctors are confounded for a cure. Lorenzo's parents take the initiative and begin their own research. Despite opposition from the medical community and other organisations, they begin testing different oils and eventually find a cure.
Personally I don't know anything about ADL or if Lorenzo ever fully recovered. But I was wondering what people think of such an approach and if this kind of independent research represents a libertarian attitude.
Just to fill you in, the disease is adrenoleucodystrophy (ALD not ADL). The oil isn't a cure. It does seem to work as a preventative for those who have yet to develop ALD.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3907559.stm
http://jnnp.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/67/3/279
http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20010508hlorenzo1.asp
I haven't seen the movie, but I understand that the Odones problems were with the medical community, not the government, so it wouldn't make it a libertarian themed movie.
Just to fill you in, the disease is adrenoleucodystrophy (ALD not ADL). The oil isn't a cure. It does seem to work as a preventative for those who have yet to develop ALD.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3907559.stm
http://jnnp.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/67/3/279
http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20010508hlorenzo1.asp
I haven't seen the movie, but I understand that the Odones problems were with the medical community, not the government, so it wouldn't make it a libertarian themed movie.
Thanks for the links. After reviewing them I can see how the movie is misleading in some places. However here is a quote from one of your links.
"Dr. Hugo Moser, a professor of neurology and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University who was portrayed in the film by Peter Ustinov under the name Professor Nikolais... Moser doesn't dwell on his past conflicts with the Odones when talking about the history of Lorenzo's Oil... "It's a very complicated situation, but on the whole the movie has been a benefit," he said."
The reason why I thought to use this movie as an example is because it deals with issues of euthanasia, international co-operation in medical research, and experimentations on humans and animals. That aside, the original intention of this thread was to ask people if they think the initiative of the Odones should be encouraged or discouraged and to determine how much control the government should exert in the field of medical research/experimentation.