Clinical crime: Doc suspended for illegal drug trial at Jamnagar college

Three months after an illegal clinical research racket was busted at the Guru Govind Singh Hospital in Jamnagar...

Three months after an illegal clinical research racket was busted at the Guru Govind Singh Hospital in Jamnagar,the prime accused in the case,Dr Amul Bhattacharya,on Monday afternoon was given a suspension letter by the Baroda Medical College (BMC) where he was currently posted.

On April 4,a complaint was registered against Dr Bhattacharya,a nurse and two other helpers for conducting clinical trials for a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on its lead asthma drug Oglemilast. According to the police complaint,the trials were conducted on the patients keeping them in dark about the drug they were subjected to. The 10×10 cabin in the hospital which had three computers provided by the company and other research related documents,was sealed by the hospital.

Dr Bhattacharya and the three other accused in the case were charged under Sections 406,420,465,471 and 114 of the IPC. However,before that,Dr Bhattacharya was transferred to Baroda Medical College where he continued to be a part of the Department of Medicine. In reference to the ongoing investigation,Dr Bhattacharya was given a suspension letter on Monday.

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Yes,I have received a letter in the afternoon from the Baroda Medical College. But since it is a sub-judicial matter I would not want to disclose much on it, said Dr Bhattacharya.

A T Leuva,Dean,Baroda Medical College,refused to comment on the matter. However,Dr Amarjit Singh,the Health Commissioner,said,The suspension does not mean that he (Dr Bhattacharya) has been punished. But while the inquiry is being carried out by the committee,we do not want him to tamper with any of the documents which are the prima facie evidence in the matter.

Singh said a committee approved by the government is carrying out the investigation.

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