Dubious Drug Tests Turn Life Threatening
Chandrasekhar, a painter from Serilingampally, who was called to give blood for a drug test by Axis Labs, for Rs. 2,500, was then forcibly detained in an apartment for days.
Hyderabad | 25th March 2013
Clinical trials of drugs by prominent research organisations are turning into traps, with those in charge of trials brazenly ignoring rules and guidelines such trials entail.
Thousands of unemployed youth are being lured into signing up for these drug tests with the promise of money, but are then stuck in a vicious cycle as they are browbeaten and bullied into staying with the system.
Take, for instance, the case of Bhageshwar Reddy of Petbasheerabad. Reddy had reportedly signed up for a drug test with Aizant Drug Research Solutions in return for Rs. 12,000. When he developed health complications including nausea and weakness, said Reddy, he confronted the doctor who administered the drug that Reddy was told was related to blood pressure. Not only was the doctor utterly indifferent, he also had Reddy roughed up, and kicked out of the place.
Reddy then filed a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission, which is currently looking into it.
In another case, Chandrasekhar, a painter from Serilingampally, was called to give 900 ml of blood for a drug test by Axis Labs, in return for which he would get Rs. 2,500. Following this, he was reportedly told to take a tablet. When he refused, he was allegedly locked up in a room, and then used as a sort of human guinea-pig for a few days.
Unable to bear the torture, Chandrasekhar reportedly attempted suicide by jumping out of the window of the 3rd floor apartment. He is now bed-ridden due to broken legs.
filed in: Medical Crime, Clinical Trials