Dear Forum,

On 15/07/09 I visited LNJP, Moulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi ART Center
to collect my 2nd line ART.

Just after submission of my ART book to the dealing Nurse, while I was
waiting to meet the doctor, some unknown person called me to the
Counseling/Record/Refreshment room for staffs along with my ART book and
official treatment file of the ART center.

He took me to a table where another lady was there with some printed
questionnaire and started questioning in detail about self-history and
was marking in the same questionnaire.

After completion of their questions I asked about their identity and the purpose
of the questionnaire. They simply replied that it is a research as I guessed
earlier.

Then I asked them why didn't they introduce themselves before they
start me questioning and about the mandatory Written Informed Consent
Form according to Ethical Research Protocol?

The person simply replied that they don't need any Written Informed
Consent. There is provision of Verbal Consent in their research
(although they never took that from me), and again which I know
unethical.

Which I brought into the notice of my treating physician Dr. Kuldeep and got his
reply that, " Yes, you have identified the thing in a right manner, nobody can't
use any HIV+ Positive for the purpose of any research as Guniapig , but I can't
prevent them from their ongoing
activities as whatever they are doing that is according to the
permission of the Dean"

Finally, again I went to those two persons and asked them to write down their
names, purpose of research etc. Firstly, the man denied writing down but,
ultimately he wrote his name as Mr. Essam M. from Yemen and he is doing his PHD
Research from Moulana Azad Medical College.

And, surprising I found that he dared to call another person in the same manner
to continue his research after my objection and without any obstruction from any
of the staffs of the ART center to get his PHD!

My questions are,

Is there any Ethical Protocol Committee in Moulana Azad Medical College and if
that is there, then what for?

What are the Ethical Obligations of the concern department or the
concern professor under which the research is going on?

Is the Dean of Moulana Azad Medical College not responsible for such
violation of Human Rights of People Living HIV?

Is this research is viable to get PHD?

What are the provisions of punishments for Mr. Essam and other
responsible persons linked with this research?

And lastly, what is the role of NACO to prevent such Human Rights
Violations in NACO supported ART Centers to let People Living with HIV
in Dignity?

Thanking you,

In solidarity,

Snehansu Bhaduri

Snehalaya Charitable Trust, Gwalior.
<mailto:Snehansu.bhaduri@...>
Mobile:9874693613
Website: www.helpchildrenofindia.org.uk