True. A better way to say it would have been to say that when taking the blame carries professional or financial risk, the smart move is to avoid it. When everyone cooperates, everyone wins (until the system breaks down); if all but one cooperates, it gets pinned on a fall guy (to the same effect).
We see this "no no's" in VC investing, job hunting, and now your anecdote, medical trials.
People don't want to be responsible for children. The elderly. Owning a home. Maintaining society. Or to each other. Saddening really.
People are adverse to just trying often times. The responsibility of potentially failing is something they don't want...
When nobody is responsible for anything, society crumbles.