Victims of the disease were eager to participate in drug trials because such trials offered them a chance at life. Once in, subjects used every means they could to find out if they were actually receiving the new drug or a placebo. In some cases, they even resorted to swapping drugs in an effort to improve their odds of surviving.
當時愛滋病患者因急於獲得一線生機而自願參與各種新藥試驗，患者甚至用盡各種方法，希望知道自己服用的是新藥還是控制組的「安慰劑」，甚至彼此偷偷「交流」藥物，以求能活命。