I'm not sure I understand the hero worship statement, but I do know a lot of people certainly worship doctors.
I'm sure the medical doctors that did/are doing the iodine research consider their patients "guinea pigs" - to a degree...and you can bet they're making a LOT of money in the process, too!
I applaud their efforts, AND, what they have accomplished, but the bottom line is that what they are doing is still considered "practicing medicine".