[mentalhealth]

This is a poorly considered view of experimental treatments. Particularly in the case of aid work, experimentation on the patient population is not only unethical in every formalizable sense, it is quite likely to inculcate a sense of distrust in the treated (justifiably, and moreso if there are unanticipated side effects), making treatment and control of future outbreaks more difficult. A chance at life for a single patient may damage the chance for hundreds if not thousands of future patients.

[swombat]

I'm not advocating experimentation on the patient population. I'm just saying it is frankly unethical and immoral to withhold a potential cure from a patient with a very high chance of dying, when you have that potential cure at hand and they are making an informed choice that they want to give it a try.

I don't see how treating that one patient will prevent "treatment and control of future outbreaks", either.