Ebola expert Dr. Sheik Umar Khan was never told by his physicians that a dose of an experimental drug that likely saved two Americans was at his bedside and available for use.
One dose of ZMAPP happened to be in Sierra Leone when Dr. Khan fell ill. There was a wide-ranging discussion between the World Health Organization and his bedside doctors concerning the ethics of trying a drug never before tested in humans.
Despite disagreement as to the proper course, the bedside physicians decided against even discussing the possibility of its use with Dr. Khan, who worsened and died 48 hours later.
The day after Dr. Khan’s physicians passed on using the drug as too dangerous, it was sent to Liberia where both Americans asked to receive it and readily signed a consent form.
Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol both immediately improved after the drug was administered and are expected to make full recoveries.
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