An investigation into whether a group of Dunedin Hospital mental health patients was unwittingly involved in an experiment casts a shadow over those awaiting the outcome, an advocate says.
Mike McAlevey, of the Otago Mental Health Support Trust, complained in December 2010 to the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) about use of the drug ketamine off-label as an antidepressant.
Ketamine is medically licensed as a rapid-acting anaesthetic.
Mr McAlevey is disappointed the complaint has not yet been resolved.
''I look on these complaints to the HDC as opportunities for everybody to learn. If it's getting up to three years before any issues are dealt with, then the opportunities for learning are greatly diminished.''
Mr McAlevey said the complaint was not like others, in that it had had publicity, its issues had been canvassed, and the identities of those involved were known.
''The shadow hangs over people ... until it's cleared. And I don't think it helps with morale in the district health board to have things like this hanging over them.
''It's not really about ketamine. It's about informed consent processes, and how the hospital does things around research. What's research, and what's not?''
He remained concerned the drug was given to patients without informed consent.
''It was being used [in 2010] as a fairly frontline treatment.''
He did not have an issue with off-label use, if correct protocol was followed.
Ketamine has been gaining attention overseas recently as a potential new antidepressant, following promising clinical trials.
Southern District Health Board mental health medical director Dr James Knight, in a written response yesterday, said one mental health patient still received ketamine injections, at their request.
''This request went through a thorough process to ensure its clinical appropriateness and fully informed consent,'' Dr Knight said.
The board had seen a copy of the draft HDC report, he said. The Otago Daily Times asked the HDC about its investigation and was told the query would be considered by its legal team.
Two years ago, the National Health Board said it would investigate the drug's use in the city's mental health service during 2010. Its review, not released publicly, was absorbed into the HDC's later that year.
