Science
The $800,000 Gamble: When Gene Therapy Hope Meets Tragic Reality
A family paid $800,000 to cure their daughter's genetic disorder. She died a week later. This is the story of Mei, and why her death exposes the dark side of cutting corners in science.

The Big Idea
A family paid more than $800,000 for a gene-editing therapy to save their six-year-old daughter. She died a week after the treatment. Her death wasn't made public. This is the story of "Mei," a pseudonym used to protect the identity of a child whose tragedy has reignited a fierce debate about the ethics of "first in human" gene-editing trials, especially for rare disorders. It's a stark reminder that in the race to pioneer cures, the line between cutting-edge and cutting corners...
gene therapy
bioethics
clinical trials
regulatory oversight
China
medical ethics
rare diseases
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