Chief physician is said to have cheated on studies

Former chief anesthetist is said to have falsified data and used subjects unsolicited for studies

09/08/2012

According to a commission commissioned, a former chief physician of the Ludwigshafen Hospital is said to have violated numerous guidelines in scientific reports and to have falsified data in studies. Furthermore, tests with patients should have been carried out without them being informed in advance. The accused doctor was dismissed in the year 2010 by the clinic, as the first allegations were in the room. Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office has started the investigation.

All 91 technical reports contain violations of the guidelines
A new medical scandal is starting. After a year and a half of work, a special commission set up by the Ludwigshafen hospital department came to the conclusion that all 91 reports published by the former chief medical officer contained violations. On Wednesday, the working group presented its extensive report. However, according to the experts, „the report is still not complete“. According to previous findings, patients are „not to hurt“.

Medications administered during cardiac surgery
Already in 2010, the Rhineland-Palatinate Hospital had adopted by his chief physician and appointed a commission of inquiry. According to the report, it found that a total of 503 patients and volunteers had to serve for studies of the former chief anesthetist. For example, the doctor administered drugs to the patient during cardiac surgery to measure clinical responses. Subsequently, according to the Commission's report, the anesthesiologist used the data obtained for his studies. Although all medications used were already approved, the physician did not ask patients before they were given if they would agree. Such an approach is blatantly violating the prescribed guidelines. Furthermore, blood samples from donors without their consent were apparently also used for examinations.

High dark digit possible
Although so far around 500 patients have been identified, they are affected „The number should be much higher“, As the chairman of the commission of the clinic, the Heidelberg Professor. Eike Martin, explained. One reason for this could be that a large number of documents can no longer be found.

In a patient case, a person suffered an allergic reaction. According to the chairman of the commission, however, this was quickly alleviated. In another case, such a context could not be ruled out either.

Doctor denies reproach
The accused denies the fact that he did not inform the patients. This was said to be done verbally. He himself had enlightened the subjects to that effect. But there is no evidence, and that is „extremely problematic“, stressed Martin.

Overall, the physician had made 91 studies and reports. „None of the available work was approved by the patients“, as the ethics committee of the State Medical Association reported. In ten cases, there are also indications that scientific standards have been violated, according to the ethics committee. In this case, for example, numbers have been falsified or manipulated by the doctor. For example, patient age information was incorrectly re-stated, as stated in the report. „He has been doing science fraud“, Martin emphasizes in view of the extent of the scandal.

The experts examined studies published between 1999 and 2011. Because of some other studies, there have already been investigations in pouring against the ex-chief anesthetist. These were discontinued, however, as Dr. Martin explained. That is a „serious case for the medicine“.

Trade journals withdraw science contributions
Already in November 2010, the fraud scandal was obvious. Many readers of a trade magazine had complained about a published article. As a result, the chief physician was dismissed by the hospital management. In addition, two other senior physicians had to leave the hospital. As a result, some journals have withdrawn a total of 16 articles from the doctor.

Professor's title denied
In the case, the prosecutor Frankenthal has now turned on. According to a spokesman, the authority determined on suspicion of document falsification, assault and fraud against the doctor. In addition, the clinic checks whether it takes civil law steps, as the managing director Joachim Stumpp announced. The professors title was already denied the doctor. In addition, it is still unclear whether more senior physicians are involved in the medical scandal. Investigations in this direction are still under way, as Stumpp reports. About the possible motives of the doctor is not yet known. (Sb)