[india-drug] Re: Clinical Trial ethics related to Acupuncture (3)

["Mukund and Urmila Thatte" <mthatte@vsnl.com>]

Clinical Trial ethics related to Acupuncture (3)
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Dear Dr. Rahman,

The ICMR Ethical Guidelines (published in 2000, and available at 
http://icmr.nic.in/ethical.pdf) mention that
"when clinical trials of herbal drugs used in recognised Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy are to be undertaken in Allopathic Hospitals, association of physicians from the concerned system as co-investigators/ collaborators/members of the expert group is desirable for designing and evaluating the study"

In the case you mention, I am not certain whether acupuncture is an 
officially recognised system in India, in which case what Dr. Gulhati 
mentions in his response would be correct. It would be unethical and perhaps 
illegal for such a person to conduct such a trial in our country.

Dr. Urmila Thatte
Prof. and Head, Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology
TN Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital
Mumbai 400 008

Tel 91 22 23014713
Fax 91 22 23050347
e-mail clinpharm@vsnl.net