Violations of medical ethics and human rights committed in a trial of an experimental drug touted by President Jair Bolsonaro as a cure for covid-19 were the worst in Brazil’s history, the country’s research regulator has said.1
If the details of this story from Brazil in November 2021 are accurate, this is a horrifying ethical lapse. It demonstrates what happens when researchers/clinicians are pressured to find the most palatable answer in as quick a time as possible. When corners are cut, individual rights are compromised and the welfare of individuals is put last.
Brazil’s attorney general is investigating the possible violations of medical ethics and human rights on the recommendation of the National Research Ethics Commission (CONEP), which forms part of the CNS.2 The trial’s principal investigator, Flavio Cadegiani, was identified in October along with 68 others by a parliamentary inquiry into Brazil’s management of the pandemic as having committed “crimes against humanity.”3
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SUS Conecta. Nota pública: CNS elucida à sociedade brasileira fatos sobre estudo irregular com proxalutamide [Public statement: CNS clarifies the facts about irregular study with proxalutamide to Brazilian Society]. 15 Oct 2021. http://www.susconecta.org.br/nota-publica-cns-elucida-a-sociedade-brasileira-fatos-sobre-estudo-irregular-com-proxalutamida/ (in Portuguese)
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National Health Council (Brazil). Conep/CNS pede que Procuradoria Geral investigue 200 mortes em estudo irregular com proxalutamida para tratar Covid-19 [Conep/CNS asks the Attorney General to investigate 200 deaths in irregular study with proxalutamide to treat Covid-19]. 20 Sep 2021. http://conselho.saude.gov.br/ultimas-noticias-cns/2033-conep-cns-pede-que-procuradoria-geral-investigue-200-mortes-em-estudo-irregular-com-proxalutamida-para-tratar-covid-19 (in Portuguese)
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Magri D. Acusado de crime contra a humanidade na CPI receitou dose inédita de proxalutamida a paciente com covid-19 [Accused of a crime against humanity in the CPI, he prescribed an unprecedented dose of proxalutamide to a patient with covid-19]. El Pais 2021 Oct 20. https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2021-10-20/acusado-de-crime-contra-a-humanidade-na-cpi-receitou-dose-inedita-de-proxalutamida-a-paciente-com-covid-19.html (in Portuguese)