§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to provide effective and adequate protection for patients in regard to medical experimentation upon them.
§ Dr. OwenIt is not considered that such legislation is necessary, as the patient already has protection in common law and no clinical research investigations may be carried out on patients without their consent freely obtained after a full explanation of the nature and extent of the treatment proposed. Investigation of children or mentally handicapped adults which is not of direct benefit to the patient may be conducted only when the procedures entail negligible risk or discomfort and with the consent of the parent or guardian.