The Hollywood Liberal

VA testing drugs on mentally distressed veterans.
A Washington Times/ABC News investigation released today finds that “mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are being recruited for government tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects.” The Times reports: In one such experiment involving the controversial anti-smoking drug Chantix, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) took three months to […]

A Washington Times/ABC News investigation released today finds that “mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are being recruited for government tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects.” The Times reports:

In one such experiment involving the controversial anti-smoking drug Chantix, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) took three months to alert its patients about severe mental side effects. The warning did not arrive until after one of the veterans taking the drug had suffered a psychotic episode that ended in a near lethal confrontation with police.

“VA officials defend their use of veterans in medical studies, saying that helping [post-traumatic stress disorder] sufferers to stop smoking would prolong their lives,” the Times notes.

Big Shoes
I couldn’t bring myself to do it. In this cold-blooded business we speculate about everything: who’ll win the election, who will get the veep nod, whether the Lakers can battle back against the Celtics or whether Tiger can come from behind on a bum knee to win the U.S. Open.

McCain Addresses Energy Policy
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, R-ARIZ.: Thank you all very much. Governor Perry, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst, and other distinguished guests, I appreciate your joining us today. And thank you all for the warm welcome to Houston.

Keep D.C.’s Vouchers Program Going - Washington Post

The Risk and Reward of a Bike Helmet
Boris Johnson, Daily Telegraph