Toshiba's Human Guinea Pig Offends Real Test Subjects Ad called irresponsible for portrayal of clinical trials
You don't often hear about the clinical research community raising a ruckus, but Toshiba's new ad seems to be getting the lab crowd in a lather. The spot, touting the Toshiba Satellite Ultrabook's rigorous testing before release, stars a "professional medical test subject" who endures an array of cruel and unusual side effects. There's actually no such thing as a full-time human guinea pig, but those involved in real clinical testing have posted several angry comments on YouTube saying the ad is socially irresponsible. "This message completely undermines the efforts of the FDA, NCI, institutional review boards and other medical research organizations who work so hard every day to ensure that clinical trials are conducted SAFELY so that participants are protected and NOT harmed," notes one viewer. "Medical research is important," says another, "and this trivializes the whole process. Toshiba should be ashamed." (For a good read on the history and reality of clinical testing, be sure to check out Slate's recent write-up on the topic.) Given the relatively small audience of medical testing volunteers, it's unlikely Toshiba will give in to demands to pull the ad or issue an apology.
- Mike Darnell Steps Down as Fox Reality Capo
- Embattled P&G CEO Out, Replaced by Predecessor
- The Guardian to Consolidate Web Properties Under One Domain
- JCPenney One of 10 Brands Predicted to Die in Next Year
- Are You Young and Male? Discovery Says This TestTube's for You
- NSA Media Creates Alliance With Wishabi
- Dwell Media Hires New Head of Digital From Yahoo
- FTC May Not Be Done With Google Yet
- JCPenney One of 10 Brands Predicted to Die in Next Year
- Atlanta's Most Infamous Stripper Pimps Charity Advertising Contest
- Rapture-Palooza Star Anna Kendrick Is Addicted to Reddit
- Microsoft Humiliates Siri in Biting Parody of Apple's iPad Ads
- Tablets Overtake Smartphones as the Big Shopping Device
- Jell-O Hijacks Twitter's Profane #FML Hashtag, Changes It to Mean 'Fun My Life'
- Group of Web Video Companies Band Together to Ensure Ads Are Viewable
- The Story Behind 'This Is Water,' the Inspiring Video People Can't Stop Watching
AdFreak is your daily blog of the best and worst of creativity in advertising, media, marketing and design. Follow us as we celebrate (and skewer) the latest, greatest, quirkiest and freakiest commercials, promos, trailers, posters, billboards, logos and package designs around. Edited by Adweek's Tim Nudd. Updated every weekday, with a weekly recap on Saturdays.


Email
Print







