§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many experimental tests were carried out in each of the last five years on hospital patients, National Health Service and private patients, respectively, which were directly or indirectly associated with the remedy or alleviation of the patient's own condition;
(2) how many tests have been carried out on hospital patients during each of the last five years that were not directly connected with remedying or ameliorating the condition of the patient; and what was the annual breakdown by regional hospital board area.
§ Sir K. JosephI have no information about the number and content of clinical experiments undertaken by hospital consultants. Such work is carried out within the professional discretion of doctors themselves. Advice has been issued to hospital authorities to recommend that all such experiments should be carried out under the aegis of ethical committees and such Committees have been set up in the majority of teaching hospitals where the bulk of such work is done. I have received no evidence to suggest that a detailed enquiry by my Department to obtain the information requested by the hon. Member is called for.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, where tests are carried out on hospital patients not directly connected with the remedy or alleviation of the patient's own condition, whether such tests are initiated with the consent of the patient or the relatives; and if consent is obtained, what 212W the criteria are by which it is judged to have been secured.
§ Sir K. JosephThe advice commended to hospital authorities is that where such tests are proposed the procedure should be in accordance with the guidance issued by the relevant professional bodies that a patient's consent to participation must be freely given, and must be based upon a proper understanding of the nature and consequence of what is proposed.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, where tests are carried out on hospital patients not directly related to the remedy or alleviation of their own condition, by what means such patients are selected.
§ Sir K. JosephSelection of volunteers is a matter for the individual clinician concerned but such patients must be volunteers in the sense that they must consent freely with a proper understanding of the nature and consequence of what is proposed.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the main regulations governing the carrying out of experimental tests on hospital patients; whether he is satisfied that they are operating satisfactorily; and what changes he proposes to make.
§ Sir K. JosephThe principles applicable to clinical experimentation on human beings were set out in the Medical Research Council's Report for 1962–63—Cmnd. 2382. The report was issued to all hospital authorities, who were asked to ensure that it was brought to the attention of all hospital doctors. Further guidance by the Royal College of Physicians has been commended to hospital authorities and I have no evidence to suggest that the ethical considerations which these reports present are not being responsibly observed in hospitals.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, where tests are carried out on hospital patients which are not directly related to the remedy or alleviation of the patient's condition, what the main purposes are of the tests so conducted.
§ Sir K. JosephThis information is not collected.