I used to post once in a while on another MB as Edwardmonighan146 (long story for the name) a few years ago and I recall you being the voice of reason on that board, you carried a big load on that board back then if I remember correctly.
When safety/ethics descriptors are used as such general terms by ex it covers about everything. A trial can be interrupted if proper controls are not being executed properly and that would be considered safety. Clinical trial controls are predominantly about patient safety. And ethics could include the possibility of dosing patients with placebo when it is apparent there is benefit from the therapy. I think the main question that remains from the partial clinical hold is why were only placebo patients restricted? And this does not appear to be bad news in my opinion.