Indore: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) to investigate into a complaint of a woman whose husband had died after clinical trial.

A resident of Bombay Bazaar area of the city, Hajani Anwar Bi, had complained to NHRC on January 25 that her husband Haji Abul Rashid had died during clinical trials conducted in the city. In her complaint, she had alleged that her husband was a patient of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had been taken to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College for treatment.

The doctors at the hospital had referred them to Dr Salil Bharga who took them to private clinic Gyanpushpa Research Centre and conducted a clinical trial of some unknown medicine on him. She further alleged that no written consent from her or her husband was taken for conducting the trial.

Ironically, Anwar Bi had come to know that a trial was conducted on her husband only after doctors replied to a question raised in the assembly by Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh and others It was after the trial that the victim died on April, 4, 2010.

The NHRC’s letter to MCI, which is in possession of DNA, has infused new hope in Anwar Bi. “I hope I will now be able to get justice,” she told DNA.

Activists have, however, claimed that this move by NHRC will only delay the probe.

“The delay in the process of getting things right is adding to the miseries of victims. The NHRC is itself conducting probe, so it should have done the investigation itself. Moreover, the compensation should be paid to the subject under clinical trial liability insurance and as far as investigations are concerned, they can be conducted for other aspects,” whistle blower of clinical trials, Dr Anand Rai, told DNA. “The MCI will forward this complaint to Drug Controller General of India which will lead to further delay,” he added.