By IANS,
New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Madhya Pradesh government and the ministry of health with reference to unethical clinical trials allegedly being conducted on Bhopal gas tragedy victims.
The disaster which killed thousands of people and affected numerous other people, was one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. It happened in the intervening night of Dec 2-3, 1984.
“The commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a complaint referring to a news article which alleges that the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, which was set up for treatment of gas victims, conducted unethical drug trials on them,” a statement said.
“215 out of 279 patients on whom unethical drug trials were conducted comprised Bhopal gas victims. We have issued notices to the secretary, ministry of health and family welfare and the chief secretary, Madhya Pradesh, calling for their reports in the matter within four weeks,” it added.