[SilasX]

That was not the IRB's objection. I don't know where you're getting that (except as a devil's advocate position you thought of?). They were objecting to him using something other than pen (even though pencils were in common use for these very patients at that hospital with no IRB objection), not insisting that he use something safer than both pens and pencils.

[euyyn]

I didn't say it was their objection.

[SilasX]

>>>Even the one that he makes sound the most ludicrous ("IRB required pens, be we were only allowed to use pencils") can be rephrased as:

It looked like you were giving an alternate phrasing of the IRB's actual argument, not a separate one that also argues in favor of disallowing pencils (as well as the pens they had no problem with).

[euyyn]

Ah, I see how I worded it confusingly.