What is the risk of Didier Raoult, former boss of the Marseille IHU, after several medical authorities denounced to the authorities the organization of a “wild therapeutic trial” on patients with Covid-19?
Sixteen learned medical societies challenged the authorities on Sunday on a lack of sanctions in the face of the “largest known ‘wild’ therapeutic trial”, denouncing the study by Didier Raoult, former boss of the Marseille IHU, on hydroxychloroquine.
In a column published on the website of the Worldthese companies involved in research criticize teams from the Institut hospitalier universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection “the systematic prescription, to patients with Covid-19 (…) of drugs as varied as hydroxychloroquine, zinc , ivermectin or azithromycin (…) without solid pharmacological bases, and in the absence of any proof of efficacy”.
More serious, according to them, these prescriptions were continued “for more than a year after the formal demonstration of their ineffectiveness”. The authorities must take “measures adapted to the faults committed”, in the name of “patient safety” and “the credibility of French medical research”, they conclude.
One year imprisonment and 15,000 euros fine
But what is the risk of the famous Marseille professor? According to the law, “the fact of carrying out or having carried out research involving the human person” without the authorization “of a committee for the protection of persons” or of a “competent authority” is punishable by “one year of imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros”, specifies the Public Health Code.
Also, as noted The Parisian, if the organizers of the study have not obtained the consent of the patients tested, the penalty can go up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros. It can also be accompanied by “a ban on civic, civil and family rights, as well as a ban on practicing for five years”.
Still according to our colleagues, disciplinary sanctions can also be put in place by the Order of Physicians: “in the event of conviction, the sanction may be a warning, a reprimand, a ban on practicing medicine with or without suspension, which may go up to three years. The strongest sanction being the radiation of the Roll of the Order”, indicates a note of the Order.
No indictment yet
Professor Raoult, who had acquired media fame by taking now discredited positions on Covid-19, in particular the supposed effectiveness of treatments such as hydroxychloroquine, published a “pre-print” in March, c i.e. a non-peer-reviewed version, of his study of over 30,000 Covid patients.
In April, the Medicines Agency (ANSM) estimated that the use of hydroxychloroquine “exposes patients to potential adverse effects which can be serious”.
The Marseille public prosecutor’s office had opened a judicial investigation in July 2022, after a scathing report from the ANSM, for “forgery in writing”, “use of forgery in writing” and “interventional research involving a human person not justified by his taking into account. usual load”.
At this stage, there has been no indictment, the prosecution told AFP at the end of May.