IECs, Drug Trials and Regulators–the Hounds Barking up the Wrong Tree

Abstract

As India hurtles on into the 21st century with dizzying speed, the constantly evolving ethics, law and its interpretations fall behind. The cut and paste policy makers constantly impose regulations out of sync with the geopolitical realities. The Mental Health Care Bill now awaiting approval arose because we signed first on a global body convention and now are forced to comply. The family, a ubiquitous feature of our patient support system is slowly being derecognized. Instead, NGOs are the new approved caregivers. Our patriarchal society, earlier a repository of warmth and security is now jeered at. The mental health professional, the last mile delivery of mental health is in a quixotic position and some of the tantalizing issues of surreptitious drug administration, informed consent, the newer laws enacted or being enacted, narcoanalysis and drug trials will be discussed with pragmatic solutions offered to a disinterested regulator.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.