Hyderabad: Clinical trials done at Niloufer were legal: Govt

Hyderabad : The three-member committee of the Director of Medical Education (DME) Telangana assembled at Niloufer Hospital after allegations were made by a senior doctor, against the HoD of Pediatrics Department, which stated that clinical trials were being performed on underprivileged patients on behalf of pharma companies and without proper informed consent from the parents.
On Monday, Superintendent Dr Muralikrishna and Pediatrics Department HoD Dr Ravi Kumar were in the board room to brief the panel with explanations on the issue. The committee started inquiring into allegations of unlawful scientific trials at Niloufer Hospital. Denying the allegations, Dr Ravi Kumar repeatedly said he is among the investigators who conduct the clinical trials.
He said, “The Ethics Committee approved the trails we conduct. Our Superintendent Dr Muralikrishna also signed on the clinical trials. When DME Ramesh Reddy was the superintendent here, he too signed on it.” “This is being done only to defame me,” added Dr Ravi.
“According to the law, volunteers were not made a part of a clinical trial until they gave their approval and the process implied through an Ethics Committee,” said DME, K Ramesh Reddy, who also warned doctors against “ defaming their institutions” by leveling false allegations.
Authored by Mohammed Hussain, mohammedhussain.reporter@gmail.com Twitter:  @writetohussain Tags clinical trials Hyderabadnews legal Niloufer hospital