Hospital Halts Ketamine Study After Backlash Over Enrolling Patients Without Their Consent
A hospital in Minnesota, Hennepin Healhtcare, has halted their clinical trial studying the effects of ketamine, after reports surfaced that the hospital had been enrolling patients in the study without their permission and that police in the region had allegedly been wrongfully telling paramedics to sedate people with the drug.
Officials have denounced the study as being both unethical and unconscionable. And it's alleged that the hospital has been carrying out these sorts of studies for years now, looking into the effects of ketamine, and the current study that's received criticism was one that started last year and apparently required no consent from patients who would have their data used for research purposes. However, it's alleged that those patients would receive the chance to opt out afterward.
Both civil rights investigators in the region, along with paramedics, have allegedly expressed their own concerns previously, for how officers were said to be pressuring medical response teams to use ketamine in an effort to subdue various individuals in the community. The hospital has since called for an independent investigation after these allegations came to light thanks to a review that was conducted by the Minneapolis Office of Police Oversight Review.
Some healthcare professionals have commented on how disturbing it is that law enforcement might be trying to persuade medical personnel to sedate people with ketamine on the streets. When the hospital previously brought attention to this issue with the police, they reportedly responded by sending a memo suggesting that officers should never recommend or demand that any emergency services worker sedate someone. They aren't required to be giving medical commands on healthcare services and treatment, that's a decision they say should rest with medical professionals.
Despite the unethical procedures surrounding the study, medical professionals still urge that ketamine is an important and lifesaving drug and researching the potential use of that drug in emergency settings they suggest is vitally important.
The hospital, Hennepin Healthcare, has defended the use of the drug and said that it's medically necessary, but they've denied encouraging the use of ketamine in the study. The hospital says that because these studies are performed in emergency situations and approved by institutional review boards that they do not require pre-consent.
They've now halted their current study that's received the widespread public backlash, insisting that they are dedicated to providing the best care to those in the community. They've said that they are committed to a higher level of transparency, that they will look at and learn from other healthcare systems and their practices, that might boost transparency and community engagement etc.
Pics:
Pic 1 - Pixabay
Pic 2 -Pixabay
Yuck.
There is a sketchy history of "Without Their Consent" tests. Always a bummer. Hearing about the early, without consent LSD experiments always stressed me out.
Very interesting article/post @doitvoluntarily, great work!
Undoubtedly it is very questionable the use of the medication without the consent of the patient, it is a pity because there are other patients who need this administration and stay out for the simple fact of not doing things right.
Thank you very much dear friend @ doitvoluntarily for spreading this news
I wish you a great day
Definitely "unethical and unconscionable." Upped and resteemed!😀
interesting publication... which we must take very seriously this case! thank you for publishing!
sadly this happens in every hospital around the world. sad sad sad but fact
This is really interesting and sad at the same time that they suspend the use of ketamine since patients who are in poor condition require it, of course under strict medical supervision.
Interesting publication @doitvoluntarily is of great concern that this happening things like this, while people die for lack of ketamine and now they intend to suspend it, we must investigate all this well
Certainly over time science has had to do things which are not good to get benefits for the human being. Which is very sad because they hurt some people to save others which is not fair but it has been this that has achieved the advances that we have today. Currently it is not allowed the experimentation in the human being without consent. Which is good because before they did in many people without their prior authorization. So it seems fair to me that they have suspended this study because they are breaking the law and the principles of bioethics. I loved this article very useful in my area. Greetings friend.
Ketamine is now a mainstream hospital pain treatment here in Australia. Appears to be a very effective alternative to opioids. Hmm, just imagine the potential damage to the profits of the opioid industry