Healthy Skepticism Library item: 2428

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: media release

Hill C, Scholl B.
Joint Commission and NCQA to Discontinue Partnership for Human Research Protection, Inc.
Partnership for Human Research Protection, Inc. 2005 Aug 31
http://www.phrp.org/show.asp?durki=10945

Keywords:
PHRP accreditation

Notes:

Ralph Faggotter’s Comments: Here is an public protection organisation sadly tolling it’s own death knell.
This watchdog has been put down by the vet, not because it was sick, but because it was barking at intruders.
I would think carefully from now on before volunteering to participate in medical research as a patient.
The opportunity to inflict harm on research ‘volunteers’ in the USA, and get away with it, will be just that little bit easier starting November 15th 2005

Full text:

Joint Commission and NCQA to Discontinue Partnership for Human Research Protection, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2005
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. and WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today announced that they have jointly decided to dissolve the Partnership for Human Research Protection, Inc. (PHRP), effective November 15, 2005.

Although the Joint Commission and NCQA continue to believe that an in-depth examination of the protections provided for human research subjects participating in clinical trials – such as a comprehensive accreditation review – is one of the best ways to ensure safety, government regulators, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders do not yet demand this level of public accountability.

“The need for critical improvements in protection for participants in research remains strong,” says Mary Faith Marshall, PHRP Board Chair. “Unfortunately, there is not, as yet, enough demand for a rigorous oversight program like the one offered by PHRP from either the public or private sector.”

The number of organizations accredited to date is nine. The Joint Commission and NCQA will continue to provide support to these organizations for the duration of their accreditation over the next three years.

“These organizations deserve special praise for their commitment to the safety of studies conducted at or reviewed by their facilities,” says Marshall.

The PHRP program was established in January 2003 to provide a national set of standards and a voluntary oversight process for making certain that processes are in place to inform and protect the thousands of volunteer human subjects who participate in clinical trials and other research activities every year. The rapid expansion of medical research, drug trials and other studies involving human subjects has increased demand to ensure that studies’ risks and benefits are thoroughly weighed, that volunteers are properly informed, that adverse events are carefully monitored, and that research risks are minimized.
For more information, please contact:

Charlene D. Hill (630-792-5175)
Barry Scholl (202-955-5197)