Inquiry over risks in cancer therapy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A SENIOR doctor has been suspended amid allegations that safety controls were breached at London's Hammersmith Hospital in a pioneering gene-therapy trial on overseas patients dying of liver cancer.
The treatment involved using an influenza virus - one of the most infectious viruses known to man, it was said.
An inquiry is expected, to investigate what safety controls were in place to prevent the spread of infection and exactly what experiments took place at the Hammersmith, one of Britain's top teaching hospitals.
It is claimed that doctors involved in the joint British-Danish research project did not keep their patients in isolation for the three days required.
A spokesman for the Hammersmith Hospitals Trust said: "The trust can confirm that a senior member of the academic clinical staff has been suspended pending an independent inquiry.
"The allegations relate to the possible use of gene therapy, and, because of the complex nature of the matters under investigation and the fact that overseas patients are involved, the inquiry is being set up by the London regional office of the NHS executive."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments