[lucianbr]

When something bad happens, the person it happened to or their family will often be (understandably) irrational, and make the maximum amount of fuss and ask for the maximum damages and penalties. Even if the risk was reasonable and ethical. So naturally researchers, medics, take extra precautions. Being reasonably ethical might not be enough protection.

One thing that might be done (in my clueless opinion) is accept that sometimes shit happens and preventing the victim from getting exaggerated revenge or damages or whatever.

I'm sure at least once it happened that people who actively requested experimental treatments turned around and sued or called for prosecution after their experimental treatment took a bad turn. Of course researchers will be reluctant to provide experimental treatments.