Government suspends human subject research
A School of Medicine review committee investigating the death of a research volunteer has concluded that although the precise cause of death is "likely to remain uncertain," it believes her death resulted from exposure to inhaled hexamethonium. Committee members based their conclusion on "the timing between hexamethonium inhalation and the development of pulmonary symptoms" and other factors.
   The committee report, submitted July 16 to the federal Office of Human Research Protection, said the autopsy on the volunteer, Ellen Roche, showed widespread lung damage but "provided no specific etiologic diagnosis." Nevertheless, the committee report said, "the death was as the result of participation in the hexamethonium phase of the experiment." Full story...

Hopkins' response to OHRP suspension of research
In what Johns Hopkins believes to be an unwarranted, unnecessary, paralyzing and precipitous action, the Office of Human Research Protection today suspended all federally supported medical research projects involving human subjects at almost all of our institutions. We strongly believe that this action was taken in utter disregard of patients' health and potentially of life. Even a temporary interruption in therapeutic clinical trials, such as those involving cancer patients, could be devastating. In addition, the OHRP letter forbids us from enrolling new, sick patients in these trials. Full story...

President visits Hopkins to deliver address
On Friday, July 13, President George W. Bush visited the JHMI campus to give an address promoting his Medicare reform plans. Bush had unveiled his new drug discount plan for Medicare beneficiaries the previous day at a ceremony in the White House's Rose Garden.
   Bush, making his first public appearance in Baltimore since taking office, was accompanied by Tommy Thompson, secretary of health and human services. Full story...

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