Case alert: A petition to investigate the death of Dan Markingson and possible research misconduct at the University of Minnesota

Readers may or may not be aware of the case of Dan Markingson at the University of Minnesota, but broadly speaking Dan Markingson was a recently diagnosed sufferer of schizophrenia who was enrolled in a clinical trial in an allegedly coercive fashion – he could either participate in the trial or be involuntarily committed. He agreed to participate in the trial despite the next of kin’s wishes. Their concerns that he might harm himself or others did not seem to be acknowledged or responded to by those running the trial, and tragically during the trial he committed suicide. More details about the case are here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/36883035/Making-a-Killing-by-Carl-Elliott.

You can read more about the case on Carl Elliot’s excellent blog Fear and Loathing in Bioethics: ¹ http://loathingbioethics.blogspot.co.uk.

An excellent series on the ethical implications of this case is here:

• Part 1: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/molecules-to-medicine/2012/12/11/a-clinical-trial-and-suicide-leave-many-questions-part-1-consent.

• Part 2: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/molecules-to-medicine/2012/12/13/a-clinical-trial-and-suicide-leave-many-questions-part-2-investigator-responsibilities.

• Part 3: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/molecules-to-medicine/2012/12/18/a-clinical-trial-and-suicide-leave-many-questions-part-3-conflict-of-interest.

• Part 4: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/molecules-to-medicine/2013/01/08/a-clinical-trial-and-suicide-leave-many-questions-part-4-the-university-of-minnesotas-response.

• Part 5: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/molecules-to-medicine/2013/03/12/a-clinical-trial-and-suicide-leave-many-questions-part-5-the-case-of-the-mysteriously-appearing-documents.

Mike Howard and Mary Weiss, Dan’s mother, have started a petition on Change.org (https://www.change.org/petitions/governor-mark-dayton-of-minnesota-investigate-psychiatric-research-misconduct-at-the-university-of-minnesota-2), requesting an investigation.