-Caveat Lector- Lawmakers Probe VA Research By EUN-KYUNG KIM .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers expressed concern Wednesday over ``sloppy'' management by officials at a Los Angeles veterans hospital that allowed potentially harmful clinical research to be conducted on patients without their proper consent. ``The concerns about informed consent go straight back to the awful things that Nazis did to people during the Holocaust and called it medical research,'' said Rep. Terry Everett, R-Ala., who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee's oversight and investigations panel. ``The civilized world vowed that it should not happen again.'' The research problems, along with an overall failure to meet federal regulations, prompted federal regulators last month to suspend research at the West Los Angeles VA Healthcare Center, the nation's largest veterans' hospital. They also spurred an investigation into the issue by two House panels -- including the one Everett heads -- into whether the problems are widespread among VA facilities. During a hearing on the issue Wednesday, lawmakers questioned witnesses about other violations that have surfaced since the research suspension was imposed. The most serious violations involve Dr. Philip Sager, a cardiologist accused of collecting data on four patients during heart procedures without obtaining their consent. In 1995, Sager conducted ``moderate to high-risk'' catheterization research procedures in which probes were inserted in the hearts of four patients. One patient had twice refused to give his permission. Sager was suspended without pay for 10 days. An investigation later determined he only served seven days of his suspension, although hospital officials told lawmakers Wednesday that Sager will finish serving out his discipline. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., who chairs the VA subcommittee on health, chastised officials for being slow to learn about Sager's behavior and for failing to make sure he had been punished. ``All down the line, there's a tentative approach here,'' he said. Everett questioned why Sager was not fired. Dean Norman, the acting chief of staff at the West Los Angeles facility, said a panel of doctors had determined that suspension was more appropriate than termination for Sager because he had not violated practices before and he was a well-known and respected cardiologist. Kenneth W. Kizer, the VA Department's undersecretary for health, announced a pair of initiatives that he said will toughen controls on medical research. Kizer said the department will create the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance, an independent agency that will review all VA research efforts. It also will fund an outside program to accredit all department research programs, particularly those involving human subjects. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
