# E-DRUG: Risks and problems in Clinical Trials **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [August 12, 1999, 7:24am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-risks-and-problems-in-clinical-trials/5779 "1999-08-12T07:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![charles1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@charles1](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/charles1)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 1999, 7:24am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-risks-and-problems-in-clinical-trials/5779/1 "1999-08-12T07:24:24Z")
E-DRUG: Risks and problems in Clinical Trials --------------------------------------------- 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](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] -- Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'. Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'. For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.