E-DRUG: Risks and problems in Clinical Trials
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Two weeks back, I posted on E-DRUG a summary of the main findings from over
800 audits of clinical trials conducted by Drs Bohaychuk, Ball and
colleagues. The evidence was alarming - enough to persuade Dr Bohaychuk to
comment, "I would never go into a clinical trial myself and I would
certainly try to discourage anyone in my family from doing so."
Social Audit took up this issue with the UK Health Secretary and the
Medicines Control Agency has now responded on his behalf. The big question
was whether or not the evidence available to the MCA broadly supports or
refutes The MCA replied: "Evidence is not available in a form that can be
used to support or refute these audit findings". If this is the Health
Secretary's best advice to patients invited to take part in clinical
trials, then Dr Bohaychuk's warning seems even more important than before.
Perhaps the main redeeming feature of the MCA's response is that it exposes
the claim of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry: "it is
not true to suggest that people taking part in UK clinical trials are at
risk; clinical trials are run to the most exacting standards". There is
all the more cause for concern when the ABPI insists that "there is no real
need for further regulation".
For further information, including further coverage in The Guardian
newspaper, please see the What's New? page on the Social Audit website:
http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/5100what.htm
Charles Medawar
Social Audit Ltd
PO Box 111
London NW1 8XG
United Kingdom
Telephone/FAX: +44 171 586 7771
Email: charles@socialaudit.org.uk [added manually, WB]
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