Cancer trial approval decried

Press, 12 September 1987, Page 37

Cancer trial approval decried

PA Auckland A trial on cancer patients at National Women’s Hospital should never have been allowed, according to a British professor of gynaecology and obstetrics.

Dr Joseph Jordan, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Birmingham and Midlands Hospital, was giving evidence at the cancer inquiry in Auckland.

The inquiry was prompted by a “Metro" magazine article on conservative cervical cancer treatment practices.

Dr Jordan told the inquiry that in his opinion the study of patients by

Dr Herbert Green between 1966 and 1982 should never have gone ahead.

Cross-examined by Dr Rodney Harrison, he said his opinion was based on both political and ethical grounds. Dr Harrison represents Sandra Coney and Phillida Bunkie, writers of the “Metro” article. He represents also a patient known as Ruth, whose case was outlined in “Metro,” and the group, Fertility Action.

Dr Jordan said he knew of no hospital apart from National Women’s which had allowed patients with carcinoma in situ to con-

tinue without treatment since 1966.

He questioned the opinions of other members of the hospital’s medical committee who gave Dr Green permission to study cases of carcinoma in situ in women aged under 35. “I can only assume they were not as well informed of world opinion as Professor Green. Had they been so, I am sure that there would have been some objections to such a trial being allowed,” he said.

He believed Dr Green’s "strength of character” probably had some bearing on the committee’s

approval decision. Dr Jordan said that in his opinion Dr Green, whom he knew personally, was convinced that his measures were correct.

Committee members did not feel “sufficiently strong” about what Dr Green was doing to stop the trial, he said. Otherwise they would have stopped it. Dr Jordan said a similar trial would not be allowed to start today because of improved ethical management. “Aim of the trial, which it was, was to establish a diagnosis of carcinoma in situ, but to leave the

patients without treatment. This was contrary to generally held beliefs at that time,” he said. He said that Dr Green in 1966 was the only doctor who questioned claims that carcinoma in situ invariably became invasive cancer.

Dr Jordan said results released by Dr Green in 1974 were ignored by the hospital’s medical committee, thus allowing the trial to continue.

People treated at National Women’s Hospital for possible cervical cancer in the late 1950 s should continue to have regular checks, Dr Jordan said.