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Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

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Re: Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

#2

Post by sMarsIntruder »

> In the US, animal-based skin substitutes require levels of scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration and animal rights groups that can drive up costs, Lee said. Given the substantial supply of donated human skin, tilapia skin is unlikely to arrive at American hospitals anytime soon.

This reminds me of Milton Friedman’s arguments against the FDA.

Re: Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

#3

Post by lukebitts »

sMarsIntruder wrote: post #2

> In the US, animal-based skin substitutes require levels of scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration and animal rights groups that can drive up costs, Lee said. Given the substantial supply of donated human skin, tilapia skin is unlikely to arrive at American hospitals anytime soon. This reminds me of Milton Friedman’s arguments against the FDA.

I wonder what’s the difference between countries that drives that. It’s not like Brazil doesn’t have its own FDA, which is much more strict than the US one, from what I know. Maybe some kind of lobbying? Or are animal rights group that much stronger?

Re: Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

#4

Post by MattGaiser »

lukebitts wrote: post #3
sMarsIntruder wrote: post #2

> In the US, animal-based skin substitutes require levels of scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration and animal rights groups that can drive up costs, Lee said. Given the substantial supply of donated human skin, tilapia skin is unlikely to arrive at American hospitals anytime soon. This reminds me of Milton Friedman’s arguments against the FDA.

I wonder what’s the difference between countries that drives that. It’s not like Brazil doesn’t have its own FDA, which is much more strict than the US one, from what I know. Maybe some kind of lobbying? Or are animal rights group that much stronger?

I imagine it is about this:

> But Brazil lacks the human skin, pig skin, and artificial alternatives that are widely available in the US.

This is not an improvement on existing methods (it may end up being, but that is not the motivation) but rather a case of it being all they have to work with.

Tilapia skin is probably better than no skin at all.

Re: Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

#6

Post by petesergeant »

sammy_rulez wrote: post #5

It's old news. There is even “And Dream of Sheep” — Grey’s Anatomy, Season 15 Episode 17. That’s the episode where they mention using tilapia fish skin to treat burns. Original U.S. air date: March 14, 2019.

And a 2017 Good Doctor episode

Re: Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

#8

Post by elemdos »

sammy_rulez wrote: post #5

It's old news. There is even “And Dream of Sheep” — Grey’s Anatomy, Season 15 Episode 17. That’s the episode where they mention using tilapia fish skin to treat burns. Original U.S. air date: March 14, 2019.

Old news comes off dismissive. Doesn’t have to be a brand new discovery to be noteworthy.

Re: Doctors in Brazil using tilapia fish skin to treat burn victims (2017)

#9

Post by elric »

sammy_rulez wrote: post #5

It's old news. There is even “And Dream of Sheep” — Grey’s Anatomy, Season 15 Episode 17. That’s the episode where they mention using tilapia fish skin to treat burns. Original U.S. air date: March 14, 2019.

Doesn't make it any less interesting. And in spite of it not being new, it doesn't look like it's out of the experimental stage: the article mentions it's difficult to get the tilapia skin processed and sterilized.
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