On 12 October 2015 at 00:32, Santosh Helekar <[email protected]> wrote:
"I am puzzled by the news reports in Herald and Navhind Times regarding clinical trials at GMC and in private hospitals in Goa. I am not sure what the illegalities are. Perhaps, only someone like Josebab can throw some light on this matter, if he knows the details of this case. But from reading the reports it seems to me that: 1) Goa government has no established policies, rules and regulations regarding the conduct of clinical trials, 2) the journalists who wrote the reports and the persons who lodged the complaints believe that somehow conducting a clinical trial itself is wrong, unethical or illegal, and 3) the latter individuals also believe that attending medical scientific conferences abroad to present the results of the trials is also wrong, unethical or illegal. The trials were apparently approved by an ethics committee at GMC. The only problem I see here is that Dr. Mesquita might have a conflict of interest, assuming he did not recuse himself in respect of his own trials, since he was the chairman of the committee. But I am not sure whether or not the government has any strict conflict of interest rules in this regard. All this can be clarified by someone who actually knows the facts of this case, and is not misinformed about the importance of clinical trials in medicine and the enormous expenditure involved in conducting them" My dear Santoshbab, Both you and I have, on a number of occasions, publicly wished - even on Goanet itself - that the alleged Goa Journos would consult knowledgeable physicians before rushing to print garbage. Both you and I have , on a number of occasions, offered 'pro bono' advice to a point where we were thought to be 'all knowing'. But.....the 'brilliance' continues. In the index case, I believe that you are on the right track. I have asked a few preliminary questions; I might need to ask follow up ones. I do not know yet. Knowing at least One physician personally - for a long time, I have reason to believe that Medicine may NOT be the focus of this drama. My text books of Land Law + Trust and Equity Law have probably brainwashed me. ps: If and When I receive the answers to my questions, I will keep the information confidential - until released from that promise. I trust that the matter will be resolved soon. It is NOT only the physicians who will suffer. Medicine itself will take a serious hit. Journalists must understand that IT is NEVER a good thing when Institutions like Freedom of the Press, Justice and Medicine get unwarranted and irresponsible hits. Once again, I say to the Journos. If you need help....ASK ! best jc
