Auditor Calls For 'U' To Suspend Psychiatric Drug Trials After Patient's Suicide
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota's legislative auditor is calling for the University of Minnesota to suspend all new psychiatric drug trials.
The recommendation comes after the 2004 suicide of 26-year-old Dan Markingson. Markingson was part of a trial for a new schizophrenia drug, but a review of his participation in that study is raising some concerns.
The auditor's report says a delusional Dan Markingson was coerced into the drug study, and remained enrolled even after his mother asked doctors to take him out.
The report cites conflicts with the multiple roles played by Dr. Stephen Olson. Not only did he recruit Markingson into the study, he was also his treating psychiatrist.
"We think, again, that the University did not meet the highest standards of ethical concern," State Legislative Auditor James Noble said.
The report is critical of the response of university leaders, claiming they made misleading statements about previous reviews. The report says it is impossible to make a connection Markingson's death and his participation in the drug study, but it does say there are ethical issues and glaring conflicts of interest.
"This case of Dan Markingson and the circumstances under which he was recruited into the drug study were presented to the Minnesota legislature in 2009. And you, the legislature, heard the story of how he was recruited and you passed 'Dan's Law,' which said that should never happen again," Noble said.
Dan's Law does not allow a person with a stay of commitment or someone who is scheduled to be put in a facility to be recruited for a drug study. The University of Minnesota says it regrets not identifying their shortcomings, and they are now committed to being transparent and responsive as it moves forward.
University officials said they are taking immediate action. It will not engage in any psychiatric drug study until they can be reviewed by an independent review board. But Noble was hoping for more, someone from the outside to come in, review and oversee their drug study program.
We can expect more discussion and review of the drug program by lawmakers in the weeks and months to come.