MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Hennepin Healthcare plans to suspend a clinical trial of the sedative ketamine in emergency situations following criticism that Hennepin County Medical Center enrolled patients in the study without their knowledge.
Paramedics' use of the sedative on agitated people during emergency calls is already the subject of an independent investigation commissioned by the City of Minneapolis. Reports indicate police officers have repeatedly asked medical responders to administer ketamine.
The hospital's leadership has said the sedative can be vital to calm people who are agitated or aggressive.
The Hennepin County hospital's study began last August. While it requires no prior consent from patients, they have the option to opt out afterward.
Dr. William Heegaard, the Chief Medical Officer of Hennepin Healthcare, answered questions from the Hennepin County Board on Tuesday.
"There are lots of other institutions that are doing this type of research the way we have done it, following the rules," Heegaard said. "But I think we can be a lot better, we want to be a lot better and we suspended it specifically because we heard."
Heegaard said there is nothing unusual about their research and that they have been following all the rules.
"The use of sedatives is a long-standing medical intervention across the Twin Cities and across this great nation to help severely agitated patients," he said. "No patient received medication - sedative medications - who otherwise would not have received sedation medication simply because of the study."
Heegaard said public trust is "crucial" to Hennepin Healthcare.
"The community is hurting and I see it," he said. "We don't want to add to that pain and mistrust."
Minister Toya Woodland with the Coalition for Justice for Jamar was not convinced by Heegaard's words.
"As a human being it was not right," she said. "As a community member I darn sure don't think it was right to be administering drugs to ... and I'm sure it was to more African-American suspects than white."