VS Hospital Clinical Trials Row: Suspended Associate Professor alleges harassment, document tampering

Ahmedabad: An Associate Professor at Sheth Vadilal Sarabhai (VS) General Hospital, who was recently suspended over allegations of conducting unauthorized drug trials on patients, has submitted a letter to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), accusing the administration of NHL Municipal Medical College, affiliated with the hospital of biased investigation, mental harassment, and unfair treatment. 

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that over 50 pharmaceutical companies are under scrutiny for allegedly collaborating with eight doctors and an associate professor to carry out "unauthorised drug trials" on patients at V S Hospital, a facility operated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The trials, reportedly conducted since 2021, involved critical and vulnerable patient groups suffering from autoimmune diseases, rabies, dermatological disorders, and other serious conditions.

A preliminary probe by a five-member committee unveiled that these trials were carried out without obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, violating both the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) protocols.

Also read- Medical Ethics Breached: 9 Doctors Suspended, 50 pharma giants in dock for Unauthorised Drug Trials

Following this, the AMC suspended one associate professor, Dr Devang Rana, along with eight contracted doctors named in the probe for their alleged collusion with pharma companies. These individuals were accused of engaging in unauthorised clinical research activities, violating ethical standards, and receiving undisclosed payments outside institutional oversight.

However, Dr Rana submitted a detailed complaint against the NHL Municipal Medical College administration stating that he was threatened with suspension and transfer without any valid reason. 

In the letter that he was serving as the Member Secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee and NHL Institutional Review Board. He was directed by the Dean to resign from his post without being consulted. He complied and requested 30 days for handing over the responsibilities, but the head of the department refused and granted only 7 days.

He mentioned being given an unreasonably short time for handover, especially while managing 75 clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed concern about the lack of cooperation and pressure to wrap up duties quickly. Dr. Rana suffers from health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and vision problems, which, according to him, were ignored by the administration.

He highlighted how holidays and semester breaks were being used as deadlines, and he had to rush handovers during Christmas and other vacations, disrupting his mental peace and personal schedule.

According to the complaint, the new Member Secretary initially refused to accept the official files, and later, Dr. Rana was served a show-cause notice for not completing the handover. 

"Even though I handed over the files within the time frame, I was served a show cause notice for alleged delay. I gave the files to the new member secretary within 2 days. I personally visited the Head of the Department, the new member secretary, and the NHL Dean, requesting extension and assistance. However, no extra time or response was provided and instead, a show cause notice was issued," he mentioned in the letter. 

Dr. Rana alleged that defamatory emails and false allegations were sent to sponsors and clinical trial organisations (CROs and SMOs), accusing him of illegal and unethical conduct without any proof. He believes these baseless charges led to his removal from all positions.

Further, he also complained about theft, spying, and irregularities. He claimed that files related to clinical trials, important documents, and even scrap material were allegedly stolen from his office. He claimed that he had requested to view the CCTV footage for the past three months, but was denied — allegedly to protect specific individuals for personal gain. When he reportedly filed a police complaint about the theft, he was pressured to withdraw the complaint and apologise in writing, which caused him severe mental stress.

He further alleged that he was being threatened with suspension and transfer without any valid reason, worsening his mental distress. He also mentioned being coerced into apologising to Dr Karan Shah and Dr Darshana, as well as to the principal investigator.

"The Dean has shown favouritism by promoting only Dr. Karan Shah as Assistant Professor despite NMC compliance issues and denying Dr. Devang Rona his rightful promotion as Associate Professor as per MCI PG Regulations 2000," he wrote in the letter. 

Claims of False allegations 

Dr. Rana explained that he always followed due process while handling clinical trials, including approvals and agreements, when he was in charge of the NHL College Ethics Committee. As per instructions from Dr ****, the sponsor was supposed to deposit funds into the ethics committee’s account, to be distributed as follows: 55% to the principal investigator, 40% to AMC MET, 2% to the dean, 2% to the medical superintendent, and 1% to the member secretary.

He claimed that until 2024, no one informed him that only one account existed for such transactions. He added that after his tenure ended, it was discovered that sponsors had given financial control to the SMO.

Despite following all standard operating procedures (SOPs), Rana said he was later accused by the administration of SOP violations. He argued that all agreements were presented transparently before all relevant stakeholders, including the Dean, Chief Investigator, Sponsor, and SMO, and that legal documentation was properly handled.

He alleged that Principal Investigators and SMOs were being forced to file false complaints against him, adding that statements were being drafted and signed under pressure, falsely claiming mismanagement of trial agreements.

In his concluding request, Dr Rana urged the Municipal Commissioner to stop the biased investigation and mental harassment, provide appropriate support and a fair resolution, take action against those spreading false rumours and creating a hostile environment and ensure protection from unwarranted threats of suspension or transfer.

He stressed that he has worked honestly for 15 years and that the harassment is affecting both him and his family. Dr. Rana requested the Commissioner to look into the matter urgently.