The Two Ryans

Two little boys named Ryan. One unregistered clinical trial. A tragedy that never should have happened.

At a major Canadian pediatric hospital (CHEO), two children received overdoses of an experimental drug in a research study that was never registered with Health Canada. Ryan Lucio, just four years old, died after receiving 25 times the correct dose of interleukin-2. Ryan Carroll, 18 months old, barely survived after receiving a 22-times overdose months earlier.

As Ryan Carroll's mother opined: "What if her son's adverse reaction had been reported to Health Canada? Would the overdose that cost Ryan Lucio his life have been prevented?"

This case remains a chilling reminder of what happens when clinical research lacks objective oversight and accountability, and why HRPP accreditation matters. No one, especially children, should pay the price for systemic failure.

Stories like this are central to my upcoming book: "Ethics on Trial – Protecting Humans in Canada’s Broken Research System" - coming this September.

Read more about the two Ryans here 👉 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/deadly-clinical-trial-wasn-t-approved-by-health-canada-1.384348