Transcript of interview with Dr Kerryn Phelps, AMA President, Human drug trials, ABC Radio 2BL,
Tuesday 13 February 2001
Newsreader: The Australian Medical Association has defended the role of doctors in drug trials. The Australian Drug Evaluation Committee says its concerned that doctors and pharmaceutical companies are using patients as guinea pigs for clinical trials without their full knowledge.
The committee says there needs to be greater protection for patients. But AMA President, Kerryn Phelps, says the role of doctors is entirely appropriate.
Dr Phelps: The situation with clinical trials in primary care is that it's an essential part I think of the information gathering process about medications before they're available for wider distribution. And patients are informed that they will possibly get a benefit from this drug. They'll also be informed that there's a possibility of side effects.